ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

STEER ROPING WORLD CHAMPION

Snedecor won Round 2 and Round 10 outright and split the win in Round 1. His three round wins were the most of any NFSR competitor. Snedecor also was second in Round 4 and split fourth in Round 6. He earned $51,086 at the NFSR, the most of any cowboy. Snedecor has now won 26 rounds at the NFSR, third most all time. Only Allen (48) and Brazile (35) have won more. Brazile won Round 8 at the 2018 NFSR. Coupled with his three round wins in tie-down roping later at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Brazile has now won a PRCA-record 73 career rounds at the National Finals – in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping. For the second year in a row, Snedecor won the world championship riding Possum. “Possum is an outstanding equine athlete,” Snedecor said. “Stephen Stransky owns that horse. He and I grew up together, and I’m fortunate to get to ride that horse. It doesn’t matter what circumstance you put that horse in, he’s great under any condition – long score, short score. He’s easy to rope on, and I’m lucky to have a buddy like that to let me take that horse when I need him.” Cooper had an outstanding regular season, establishing the PRCA record for money earned in a season before the NFSR with $89,427. The previous record was set in 1998 by Allen with $87,927. However, Cooper had a rough NFSR, registering a no-time in six of the 10 rounds. After not earning any money on the first day, Cooper bounced back in Round 6. He won the round in 8.3 seconds, tying for the fastest run in NFSR history with Cash Myers (2006), Jess Tierney (2015) and Allen (2016). Cooper then placed fourth in Round 7 with an 11.0-second run and earned $4,420 to retake the lead in the season standings with $103,002. Snedecor was second with $99,574 after recording a no time in Round 7. The door opened again for Snedecor when Cooper’s 10.6-second time in

Round 8 was nullified because he didn’t have a wrap on all three legs. Snedecor clocked a 13.2-second run, which didn’t place in the round, leaving Cooper with the $3,428 lead in the world standings. Cooper applied more pressure by winning Round 9 with a 9.5-second run, but Snedecor answered in Round 10 to claim his world title. “First place in the go-round in the last round would not have won me a world championship,” said Cooper, who had a no time in Round 10. “Scott Snedecor is the best (steer roper) in the world, congratulations (to him).” Cody Lee won the average in 132.0 seconds on 10 head. He earned the $27,347 first-place check and moved up from 15th to sixth in the world standings with $83,976. Bryce Davis finished second in the average with 136.7 seconds on 10. Davis scooted up from 14th to seventh in the world standings with $80,788. Lee and Davis were the only competitors to rope all 10 steers. “I outlasted everybody,” said Lee, who also won the NFSR average in 2016. “I just kept tying them down. It feels great to win that first-place average check.” Other top money winners at the NFSR were Brazile ($45,477), Lee ($42,869), Davis ($38,786), Rocky Patterson ($35,333) and Chet Herren ($33,359). In other highlights, by virtue of winning Round 2 with a 10.9-second time, Snedecor also won the Colby Goodwin Award. The Second Go-Round Award is given in honor of the late Goodwin, who passed away after being injured during the ninth round of the 1999 NFSR. Garrett Hale, who finished 11th in the world standings with $66,133, won the Dixon McGowan Award, given to the highest-ranked first-time qualifier to the NFSR. The award memorializes McGowan, who died at age 23 in an automobile accident May 10, 1997.

Steer roping world champion Scott Snedcor holds his buckle after winning at the National Finals Steer Roping while surrounded by family and friends, including PRCA CEO George Taylor, far left. PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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