ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 29, 2023

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.

SHERIFF’S PRCA RODEO

New Course

Win helps Lees go all in for Wrangler NFR bid BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News B y his own admission, Jacob Lees became a fulltime cowboy with a part-time schedule. The bareback rider showed flashes of potential, but never enough to move into the elite. His approach had to change. “It was always the dream to do this. I just never understood what it took. Before I would ride for a few months, get low on money, get a little broke and go home and work. So, I hit maybe 30-to-40 rodeos. I thought I was really doing it, and I was top 50,” Lees said. “I thought it took winning the big rodeos. But it really takes going to all the rodeos.” With his schedule stacked, Lees is on the right track, pushing to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The furious finish continued in San Bernardino, Calif., on Sept. 24, as Lees captured the Sheriff’s PRCA Rodo with an 85-point ride. Lees turned some slight intel and a novice horse into a big score, edging Orin Larsen (84.5) and Zack Brown (84) for the top prize. It proved a good fit for Lees on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Uncle Stinky. “It was his first trip as a bareback. I saw him in one video with a bronc rider and I had a good feeling about it. He was kind of nervous in there, and my plan was to keep the rein loose,” Lees said. “But usually, young horses don’t buck as hard as he did. I was like, ‘shoot, maybe I should have pulled tighter.’ But he was doing it, he had one really wild buck and it all worked out well.” Lees entered the event just outside the Top 15 required for a berth to Las Vegas. It has been a seatbelt required season, but the NFR remains in focus. On Sept. 26, Lees was 17th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $99,002. He was $7,004 behind No. 15 Cole Franks. Lees had one more chance at a big payday as he qualified to compete in the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup presented by Community Coffee, Sept. 28-30 in Sioux Falls, S.D. A cowboy could win as much as $45,000 at this $1.1 million rodeo. “I kind of have had lots of ups and downs. I had opportunities to win money and I didn’t. And I had times where I didn’t think I had a chance and I did,” said Lees, who calls Boyd, Texas home. “But with all the ups and downs, I have stuck with it. That’s every cowboy’s dream to reach the NFR. If I could do that, it would be a big blessing.” Lees credits faith and family for his career ascending. The rodeo life is not for everyone. And most that reach the sport’s biggest stage feature a strong crew behind the scenes. “One of the biggest differences this season is that I really dove into my faith. I have a great support system with my wife, my parents, and my wife’s parents. Whenever I get down or I am in a tough spot, they really pick me up and tell me to keep at it,” Lees said. “Last year was my first year going full time, but I hurt my right elbow and had surgery. So, this is the first year I have been able to get to 100 rodeos. I know now what it takes, and I am making that final push.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER TJ Gray ($19,590, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Gray

1. Jacob Lees ............................ 85 pts. 2. Orin Larsen ................................ 84.5 3. Zack Brown ................................... 84 STEER WRESTLING 1. Stan Branco .......................... 4.4 sec. 2. Stephen Culling ........................... 4.8 3. Nick Guy ...................................... 4.9 TEAM ROPING 1. D. Begay/C. Todd .................. 4.5 sec. 2. A.Holcomb/C.J. DeForest Jr. ........ 4.7 3. P. Burgess/T. Hampton ................ 4.9 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Leon Fountain ..................... 86.5 pts. (Tie) Statler Wright .................... 86.5 3. Kolby Wanchuk ............................. 86 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tuf Cooper ............................ 8.7 sec. 2. Colton Farquer ............................. 8.8 3. Britt Bedke ................................... 9.1 BARREL RACING 1. Miley Bravos ..................... 15.42 sec. 2. Shelby Bates ............................ 15.43 3. Kathy Petska ............................ 15.56 BULL RIDING 1. TJ Gray .................................. 83 pts. * no other qualified rides

Complete results/Page 57

Andrea Kaus photo Jacob Lees captured the bareback riding title at the Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo in San Bernardino, Calif., with an 85-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Uncle Stinky.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/29/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 9/29/2023

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