LAS VEGAS – For the first time in three years, someone other than Tim O’Connell is in position to win the PRCA Bareback world title.
Corvallis resident Caleb Bennett scored 88 points aboard Ankle Biter in Round 7 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Wednesday night, second place in the round and enough to overtake O’Connell in the world standings. Bennett is now No. 1 with $240,390 on the season, with O’Connell in second at $227,147.
The race if far from over. O’Connell’s 83 points Wednesday moved him up a spot in the NFR average to third, while Bennett sits in seventh. If those places hold, O’Connell would pass Bennett once again to claim his third straight gold buckle. The NFR average winner earns $67,269.
Former Montana State Bobcat Cort Scheer also inched closer to No. 1 in the PRCA Saddle Bronc world race. Scheer placed sixth in Round 7 with 84 points on Hickok, and watched world leader Ryder Wright get bucked off to drop him out of the top eight in the average. That brings the top six in the world all in a position to make a charge at the title over the final three rounds. Scheer is currently fourth in both the world and the average.
Deer Lodge’s Chase Brooks had the biggest night of his saddle bronc career Wednesday, winning Round 7 with a 90-point ride aboard Diamond Fever. He split the win with Wade Sundell. It is Brooks’ fourth round check in five nights, and his first career NFR round win in his first appearance.
Bridger Chambers earned his third paycheck of the NFR, splitting fifth/sixth in steer wrestling with a 3.8-second run. The Butte cowboy by way of Stevensville also moved up to third in the high-paying average.
Edgar bull rider Parker Breding had a chance to pull closer to World No. 1 Sage Kimzey, but Breding was bucked off Deets to fall to fourth in the average. Kimzey was also bucked off and slipped to 8th, though he still leads the world standings by over $130,000.
Several of Montana’s NFR mainstays continued to struggle in Round 7. Helena’s Ty Erickson fell farther behind the steer wrestling standings with a 16.8. Billings three-time world header champion Clay Tryan and partner Travis Graves suffered their fourth straight no-time in team roping, while former Circle cowgirl Lisa Lockhart was just out of the money once again with a 13.87-second run.
Helena heeler Chase Tryan also recorded a no-time in team roping.
60th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
Seventh Performance Results, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bareback riding: 1. Orin Larsen, 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Tip Off, $26,231; 2. Caleb Bennett, 88, $20,731; 3. Tilden Hooper, 87, $15,654; 4. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Steven Dent, 86.5, $8,885 each; 6. Jake Brown, 85.5, $4,231; 7. Shane O’Connell, 84.5; 8.Ty Breuer, 84; 9. Tim O’Connell, 83; 10. Richmond Champion, 79; 11. Kaycee Feild, 74; 12. Mason Clements, 73; 13. Wyatt Denny, 71; 14. Will Lowe, NS; 15. Bill Tutor, INJ. Average standings: 1. Steven Dent, 597 points on seven head; 2. Tilden Hooper, 594.5; 3. Tim O’Connell, 588; 4. Kaycee Feild, 584; 5. Richmond Champion, 580.5; 6. Shane O’Connell, 579; 7. Caleb Bennett, 573.5; 8. Clayton Biglow, 511.5 on six. World standings: 1. Caleb Bennett, $240,390; 2. Tim O’Connell, $227,147; 3. Clayton Biglow, $201,435; 4. Steven Dent, $193,811; 5. Orin Larsen, $191,847; 6. Tilden Hooper, $176,199; 7. Richmond Champion, $173,114; 8. Kaycee Feild, $170,522; 9. Bill Tutor, $154,162; 10. Mason Clements, $149,587; 11. Ty Breuer, $127,789; 12. Jake Brown, $119,300; 13. Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 14. Shane O’Connell, $107,720; 15. Will Lowe, $91,517.
Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Hunter Cure and Tyler Pearson. 3.6 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Will Lummus, 3.7, $13,327 each; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 3.7, $13,327; 5. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Jacob Talley, 3.8, $5,500 each; 7. Scott Guenthner, 4.3; 8. Riley Duvall, 4.6; 9. Tanner Brunner, 5.1; 10. Curtis Cassidy, 6.1; 11. Blake Knowles, 13.7; 12. Nick Guy, 13.9; 13. Ty Erickson, 16.8; 14. Blake Mindemann, 17.9; 15. Kyle Irwin, NT. Average standings: 1. Will Lummus, 28.9 seconds on seven head: 2. Tyler Waguespack, 30.6; 3. Bridger Chambers, 43.2; 4. Riley Duvall, 48.9; 5. Blake Knowles, 49.5; 6. Nick Guy, 66.9; 7. Tanner Brunner, 81.3; 8. Scott Guenthner, 25.4 on six World standings: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $184,125; 2. Will Lummus, $169,798; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $166,513; 4. Tyler Pearson, $157,337; 5. Scott Guenthner, $150,765; 6. Hunter Cure, $145,749; 7. Kyle Irwin, $139,416; 8. Ty Erickson, $128,854; 9. Bridger Chambers, $125,659; 10. Blake Knowles, $119,515; 11. Jacob Talley, $116,948; 12. Blake Mindemann, $106,919; 13. Nick Guy, $99,514; 14. Tanner Brunner, $98,193; 15. Riley Duvall, $96,528.
Team roping: 1. (tie) Luke Brown/Jake Long and Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 3.9 seconds, $23,480 each; 3. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.0, $15,654; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3, $11,000; 5. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.8, $6,769; 6. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 4.9, $4,231; 7. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 5.1; 8. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 6.7; 9. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins II, 9.1; 10. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, NT. Average standings: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 53.3 seconds on seven head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 32.1; 3. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 46.1; 4. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 49.9; 5. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 21.9; 6. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp 29.9; 7 (tie) Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison and Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 36.1. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $197,127; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $178,964; 3. Luke Brown, $154,237; 4. Bubba Buckaloo, $148,721; 5. Derrick Begay, $144,549; 6. Cody Snow, $140,363; 7. Riley Minor, $139,361; 8. Aaron Tsinigine, $138,468; 9. Chad Masters, $135,958; 10. Dustin Egusquiza, $129,723; 11. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 12. Lane Ivy, $114,688; 13. Tyler Wade, $109,376; 14. Erich Rogers, $98,450; 15. Rhen Richard, $92,790; World standings (heelers): 1. Paul Eaves, $197,127; 2. Junior Nogueira, $179,948; 3. Joseph Harrison, $155,130; 4. Jake Long, $154,237; 5. Trey Yates, $152,862; 6. Cory Petska, $151,006; 7. Brady Minor, $138,169; 8. Wesley Thorp, $136,673; 9. Kory Koontz, $129,723; 10. Chase Tryan, $128,136; 11. Travis Graves, $118,928; 12. Buddy Hawkins II, $111,682; 13. Clint Summers, $109,563; 14. Cole Davison, $102,482; 15. Quinn Kesler, $88,906.
Saddle bronc riding: 1 (tie) Wade Sundell, on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Total Equines Angel Fire, 90 points, and Chase Brooks, on Corey & Lange’s Diamond Fever, 90 points, $23,481 each: 3. Rusty Wright, 88, $15,654; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, 85.5, $11,000; 5. Zeke Thurston, 84.5, $6,769; 6. Cort Scheer, 84, $4,231; 7. Jake Wright, 82; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 81.5; 9. Brody Cress, 79.5; 10. Ryder Wright, Isaac Diaz, Sterling Crawley, Joey Sonnier III, Clay Elliott and Taos Muncy, NS. Average standings: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 588.5 points on seven head; 2. Wade Sundell, 522.5; 3. Zeke Thurston, 517 on six; 4. Cort Scheer, 516; 5. Rusty Wright, 515; 6. Clay Elliott, 424 on five; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 415.5; 8. Chase Brooks, 354 on four. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $243,194; 2. Rusty Wright, $209,338; 3. Jacobs Crawley, $204,331; 4. Cort Scheer, $198,785; 5. Wade Sundell, $194,329; 6. Zeke Thurston, $185,887; 7. Isaac Diaz, $160,970; 8. Chase Brooks, $145,161; 9. CoBurn Bradshaw, $143,325; 10. Jake Wright, $128,287; 11. Clay Elliott, $126,445; 12. Brody Cress, $121,588; 13. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 14. Joey Sonnier III, $95,883; 15. Taos Muncy, $90,906.
Tie-down roping: 1. Tyson Durfey, 7.2 seconds, $26,231; 2. Sterling Smith, 7.3, $20,731; 3. Tuf Cooper, 7.5, $15,654; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 7.8, $11,000; 5. Rhen Richard, 8.1, $6,769; 6. Marty Yates, 8.2, $4,231; 7. Cooper Martin, 8.6; 8. Jake Pratt, 8.7; 9. Caleb Smidt, 9.2; 10. Shane Hanchey, 9.4; 11. Matt Shiozawa, 9.7; 12. Trevor Brazile, 16.8; 13. Ryle Smith, 17.6; 14. Reese Riemer, 19.0; 15. Cory Solomon, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 58.7 seconds on seven head; 2. Rhen Richard, 60.7; 3. Ryle Smith, 66.6; 4. Matt Shiozawa, 69.9; 5. Cooper Martin, 73.1; 6. Reese Riemer, 76.3; 7. Trevor Brazile, 80.6; 8. Tuf Cooper, 92.5. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $173,749; 2. Marty Yates, $166,502; 3. Shane Hanchey, $164,347; 4. Tyson Durfey, $162,749; 5. Reese Riemer, $159,454; 6. Caleb Smidt, $157,932; 7. Trevor Brazile, $156,643; 8. Ryle Smith, $153,056; 9. Jake Pratt, $142,088; 10. Ryan Jarrett, $137,616; 11. Sterling Smith, $132,378; 12. Cooper Martin ; $128,169; 13. Matt Shiozawa, $122,923; 14. Rhen Richard, $118,052; 15. Cory Solomon, $110,002.
Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.61 seconds, $26,231; 2. Jessie Telford, 13.64, $20,731; 3. Ivy Conrado, 13.72, $15,654; 4. (tie) Taci Bettis and Kylie Weast, 13.74, $8,885 each; 6. Stevi Hillman, 13.77, $4,231; 7. Jessica Routier, 13.81; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 13.87; 9. Kelly Bruner, 13.94; 10. Carman Pozzobon, 14.07; 11. Amberleigh Moore, 18.64; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 18.84; 13. Tammy Fischer, 18.94; 13. Tracy Nowlin, 18.94; 15. Nellie Miller. 24.44. Average standings: 1. Jessica Routier, 96.52 seconds on seven head; 2. Carman Pozzobon, 97.91; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 100.76; 4. Jessie Telford, 101.61; 5. Ivy Conrado, 102.02; 6. Stevi Hillman, 102.38; 7. Tammy Fischer, 102.76; 8. Amberleigh Moore, 105.55. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $313,046; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $193,473; 3. Ivy Conrado, $185,809; 4. Jessica Routier, $179,358; 5. Nellie Miller, $167,825; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $160,805; 7. Lisa Lockhart, $159,746; 8. Jessie Telford, $154,188; 9. Kylie Weast, $147,253; 10. Stevi Hillman, $142,020; 11. Taci Bettis, $140,346; 12. Kelly Bruner, $129,708; 13. Tracy Nowlin, $116,150; 14. Tammy Fischer, $101,277; 15. Carman Pozzobon, $101,177.
Bull riding: 1. Chase Dougherty, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Lookin Up, $27,077; 2. (tie) Dustin Boquet and Boudreaux Campbell, 87, $19,038 each; 4. Roscoe Jarboe, 84.5, $11,846; 5. Jeff Askey, 84, $7,615; 6. Sage Kimzey, Parker Breding, Tyler Bingham, Garrett Tribble, Cole Melancon, Joe Frost, Eli Vastbinder, Koby Radley and Trey Benton III, NS. 15. Trevor Kastner, INJ. Average standings: 1. Jeff Askey, 424 points on five head; 2. Joe Frost, 347 on four; 3. Chase Dougherty, 344.5; 4. Parker Breding, 330.5; 5. Dustin Boquet, 262.5 on three; 6. Garrett Tribble, 262; 7. Koby Radley, 259; 8. Sage Kimzey, 254. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $358,853; 2. Parker Breding, $225,232; 3. Chase Dougherty, $199,452; 4. Dustin Bouquet, $185,511; 5. Jeff Askey, $182,470; 6. Garrett Tribble, $174,136; 7. Joe Frost, $173,150; 8. Koby Radley, $160,072; 9. Roscoe Jarboe, $142,584; 10. Trey Benton III, $141,393; 11. Boudreaux Campbell, $135,469; 12. Tyler Bingham, $135,064; 13. Eli Vastbinder, $132,191; 14. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.
All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $298,026; 2. Tuf Cooper, $278,838; 3. Rhen Richard, $199,416; 4. Steven Dent, $193,397; 5. Curtis Cassidy, $171,352; 6. Ryle Smith, $169,562.
RAM Top Gun standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $120,211; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $104,346; 3. Cort Scheer, $96,942; 4. Wade Sundell, $91,019; 5. Ivy Conrado, $87,423; 6. Tyler Waguespack, $86,929; 7. Rusty Wright, $85,731; 8. Steven Dent, $84,391; 9. Will Lummus, $82,840; 10. Chase Dougherty, $81,923.
