The ProRodeo Sports News - April 19, 2019

2,280.48 points followed by Ty Breuer (2,181.46) and Champion (2,143.32). “I like the Tour because I like going to the bigger rodeos, and I like the way the Tour is set up,” Breuer said. “Puyallup also is one of my favorite rodeos, and I definitely want to go there and perform well.” As the summer rolls around, the Tour rodeos will pick up pace. There are four ProRodeo Tour events scheduled in June. When July comes, the number of rodeos rockets. There will be 17 Tour stops that begin in July and another 17 that start in August.

biggest payouts and the hardest to win. They are a big part in everybody’s season. Doing well at Tour rodeos is imperative to make the NFR.” Last season, tie-down roper Tyson Durfey, who won a world championship in 2016, cashed in at Puyallup. Durfey won the final round in 7.4 seconds, edging Cooper Martin by one-tenth of a second. Durfey departed Puyallup after earning $15,109. “I think the Tour is a great thing,” said Durfey, an 11-time qualifier to the Wrangler NFR (2007-11, 2013-18).

PRORODEO TOUR LEADERS (As of April 15) Bareback Riding ................... Kaycee Feild - 2,280.48 Steer Wrestling ........................ Ty Erickson - 2,441,93 Team Roping (Header) ....... Ty Blasingame - 1,706.50 Team Roping (Heeler) ............... Paul Eaves - 1,431.50 Saddle Bronc Riding ......... Ryder Wright - 2,635.27 Tie-down Roping ..................... Tuf Cooper - 1,715.86 Bull Riding ............................. Stetson Wright - 1,519.44 (For complete ProRodeo Tour Standings, see page 17.)

Saddle bronc rider ZekeThurston, who is second in the ProRodeo Tour standings with 2,262.08 points, knows how much excelling at Tour rodeos can help a cowboy. “The Tour rodeos are good rodeos and are a lot of fun to go to, and hopefully you get to Puyallup,” Thurston said. “I think the Tour is a good concept.” Sage Kimzey, who has won five consecutive PRCA bull riding world championships, praised the ProRodeo Tour. Kimzey is in second in the ProRodeo Tour bull riding charts with 1,290.78 points. “The Tour showcases our premier events and our premier livestock and premier athletes,” he said. “It’s good to have something like that, and it is good to see it keep growing every year. The Tour rodeos are huge for us. They are generally the

“It allows you to qualify into bigger events, win more money, have television coverage and all of that. It is a good thing. I like that they are spreading the Tour out to smaller rodeos where it doesn’t matter if you just win at one specific big rodeo. Maybe if there’s a rodeo closer to your neck of the woods you’re able to go to that and earn Tour points if you are not able to, say, travel to a Tour rodeo in California. It’s nice that you can have the opportunity to go to some of those rodeos to earn Tour points, whereas in the past you would not be able to. “Making it to Puyallup is great, but it is even better to win there. It is a big boost going into the NFR. I’m definitely looking forward to defending my title in Puyallup.” For further explanation of the ProRodeo Tour points system, go to www. prorodeo.com.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule Richmond Champion made an 84.5-point ride on Korkow Rodeos’ Bambino Vold at the ProRodeo Tour Finale last year in Puyallup, Wash.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/19/2019

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