ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

BULL RIDING AVERAGE WINNER

Chasing Gold: Dougherty’s first trip a winner

BY MATT NABER C hase Dougherty rode so well at the 60thWrangler National Finals Rodeo that he won the average, the RAMTop Gun Award and nearly closed the $187,677 gap separating him from leading the world standings. “This is right out of a movie, right here,” Dougherty said. “This is what dreams are made of.” The 20-year-old fromCanby, Ore., entered theThomas &Mack Center for the first time ranked fifth in the 2018 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $109,349. In 10 days, he won $232,750, including ground money. He was the only bull rider to cover seven bulls, two more qualified rides than anyone else, netting 603.5 points, 167 more than the No. 2 cowboy. The outcome of the 2018 Wrangler NFR bull riding boiled down to the final round since the combination of ground money and the average meant Round 10 could have been worth $151,885 – enough for Dougherty to surpass Sage Kimzey in the race for the world title. Any other bull rider would’ve enjoyed that position, but not Dougherty. He tried not to think about it. “It was bad today, I couldn’t keep my mind off it,” Dougherty said, Dec. 15. “Today, when I woke up, all I could think about was if I stayed on I might have a shot (at the world title). I tried not to show how anxious I was.” Dougherty is no stranger to success

Chase Dougherty won the average and the RAM Top Gun Award by winning $209,058. Dougherty’s success was thanks in part to splitting the win in Round 8 with Joe Frost. PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

in high-pressure situations. Earlier this season, he won the RAMColumbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo, California Rodeo Salinas, and the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. But, Las Vegas is different. “This is way bigger than anything I’ve won in my entire life,” Dougherty said. Dougherty won money with each of his qualified rides and was in the top three for Round 2 and Rounds 6-10. “It’s the second-best thing to winning the world to me,” Dougherty said. “It means I showed up and I out-drew everyone and out-competed everyone I was against, and that’s not easy to do in this day and age. It’s not just you versus the bull, everyone else has to get on theirs too.” Dougherty won Round 7 with an 87.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Lookin Up. He followed that by nailing an 89.5-point ride on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Dirty Dan, splitting the win in Round 8 with Joe Frost. “I just kept the same game plan – get your hand sticky enough to

where you’ve got no choice but to stay on,” Dougherty joked after Round 10. “Honestly, I’m sore and ready to go home, but I’m ready to do it again.” Dougherty didn’t rest on his laurels, as he hit the road for more rodeos immediately after the Wrangler NFR. “I ride better when I get on more of them, so if I can keep getting on, then I keep hot,” Dougherty said. “This is what I love. It’s not just the money, and I’m young and healthy, so I’ll get on as many as I can.” Dougherty credited his dad (John) and his brother (Colton) for helping. “Jordan Spears has helped a lot, too,” Dougherty said. “While traveling with him, he taught me everything I need to know on how to be a great bull rider.” He ended the 2018 season ranked second in the world with $342,099, largely thanks to winning the average at the Wrangler NFR. “I think this is going to give me the confidence I need to give Sage a run for his money,” Dougherty said. “I’ll sure as heck give it the best shot I can.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

ProRodeo.com

54