LAS VEGAS — Helena heeler Chase Tryan and Miles City tie-down roper Haven Meged have PRCA world titles in their sights with five rounds to go at the National Finals Rodeo.
Tryan placed in his fourth out of five rounds Monday night, finishing sixth with a 6.3-second run to keep he and header Brenten Hall in commanding lead in the NFR Average. Tryan and Hall sit at 24.2 seconds total on five head, while second-place heeler Joseph Harrison is at 33 seconds total on five.
Tryan only sits at No. 6 in the current PRCA world standings, but if the rodeo ended today, he would finish second in the world to Harrison when the Average payout is factored in.
Meged is in the same situation. The 21-year-old sits third in the Average after an 8.7-second run in Round 5 Monday night and second in the current PRCA world tie-down standings. If the rodeo ended today, he would finish about $7,000 behind Average leader Taylor Santos. Meged has been the most consistent rider at the Finals, finishing between 8.1 and 8.7 seconds each night.
World No. 1 steer wrestler Ty Erickson fell just short of finishing in the money for the second straight night. The Helena cowboy's 5.1-second run put him seventh, one tenth behind sixth place. Butte's Bridger Chambers couldn't match his Round 4 win, as he also finished out of the money Monday at 7.0 seconds.
Corvallis bareback rider Caleb Bennett recorded his second 90-point ride of the event, putting him in the money for the fourth time in five rounds. But Bennett was bucked off his horse in Round 2, so he still is only 10th in the Average.
New Stevensville resident Richmond Champion, meanwhile, finished sixth with 89 points to stay in fourth place in the Average and the PRCA world standings.
Wyoming saddle bronc rider Brody Cress is making another run at the National Finals. Cress scored 88 points Monday to place fourth in the round - the fifth consecutive time Cress has finished fourth to open the rodeo. Cress sits second in the Average with 421.5 points on five head. He won the Average in his first NFR appearance in 2017 and finished less than $3,000 behind eventual world champion Ryder Wright. Cress trails Ryder's brother Rusty Wright in the Average right now (430.5 on five).
Two other Montanans may have seen their gold buckles dreams go up in smoke. Deer Lodge saddle bronc rider Chase Brooks was bucked off for the third time in four nights, while Circle cowgirl Lisa Lockhart knocked over a barrel to fall to 11th in the barrel racing average.
Meanwhile, MTN Sports' rodeo correspondent Jeff Marn caught up with Round 5 barrel racing champion Dona Kay Rule of Minco, Okla. (full interview, plus Marn's Round 5 recap can be watched in the video above) after posting the fastest run of the rodeo so far -- 13.56 seconds. Rule is in her first National Finals Rodeo at the age of 61.
"Oh my goodness, it's so exciting. I can't believe it," Rule said. "Qualifying was, I never let myself really look where I was in the standings the whole time, I just tried to keep my head down and work. I lost my dad this year, and he dearly loved the NFR. This is pretty special. He's actually here with me in spirit."
Rule told Marn she bought her horse, High Valor, when he was 5 years old, and began training him herself with the hopes of competing at the Thomas & Mack. High Valor was honored as the WPRA Horse of the Year, and hasn't disappointed, leading Rule to more than $100,000 earned this season.
But Rule says there is a backup plan, just in case.
"I have an incredible backup horse. His name is Bullseye Bouillon," said Rule. "He's an incredible stallion, and he's a pink buckle stallion, so if any of the ladies out there want to breed to him, you might want to look into him.
"I hope to run (High Valor) 10 rounds, but you never know. We'll try him (Tuesday) night, but you never know. Bullseye might get the call."
Full results from Round 5 can be found below.
Round 6 of the National Finals Rodeo is set for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. MST.
Fifth Performance Results
Monday, Dec. 9, 2019
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 92.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Scarlett Belle, $26,231; 2. Tilden Hooper, 92, $20,731; 3. Orin Larsen, 91, $15,654; 4. Caleb Bennett, 90, $11,000; 5. Tanner Aus, 89.5, $6,769; 6. Richmond Champion, 89, $4,231; 7. Kaycee Feild, 88.5; 8. Clint Laye, 86.5; 9. Steven Dent, 85.5; 9. Jake Brown, 85.5; 11. Tim O'Connell, 84; 11. Austin Foss, 84; 13. Trenten Montero, 83.5; 14. Ty Breuer and Taylor Broussard, NS.
Average standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, 435 points on five head; 2. (tie) Tim O'Connell and Trenten Montero, 433.5; 4. Richmond Champion, 432.5; 5. Kaycee Feild 427.5; 6. Steven Dent, 423; 7. Tilden Hooper, 422; 8. Clint Laye, 420.5; 9. Orin Larsen, 420; 10. Caleb Bennett, 351 on four; 11. Tanner Aus, 345.5; 12. Austin Foss, 337.5; 13. Taylor Broussard, 329; 14. (tie) Ty Breuer and Jake Brown, 258 on three.
World standings: 1. Clayton Biglow, $245,683; 2. Orin Larsen, $227,442; 3. Kaycee Feild, $207,359; 4. Richmond Champion, $186,944; 5. Tilden Hooper, $179,290; 6. Caleb Bennett, $165,184; 7. Tim O'Connell, $161,668; 8. Clint Laye, $149,685; 9. Trenten Montero, $143,219; 10. Tanner Aus, $124,595; 11. Ty Breuer, $120,911; 12. Jake Brown, $105,068; 13. Steven Dent, $103,799; 14. Austin Foss, $102,895; 15. Taylor Broussard, $93,502.
Steer wrestling: 1. Kyle Irwin, 3.7 seconds, $26,231; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 4.0, $20,731; 3. Riley Duvall, 4.1, $15,654; 4. Hunter Cure, 4.2, $11,000; 5. Will Lummus, 4.7, $6,769; 6. Tyler Waguespack, 5.0, $4,231; 7. Ty Erickson, 5.1; 8. Matt Reeves, 5.3; 9. Tyler Pearson, 5.6; 10. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Tanner Brunner, 6.4; 12. Bridger Chambers, 7.0; 13. Stetson Jorgensen, 7.8; 14. Cameron Morman, 8.0; 15. J.D. Struxness, NT.
Average standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 21.7 seconds on five head; 2. Matt Reeves, 23.4; 3. Riley Duvall, 24.5; 4. Hunter Cure, 25.7; 5. Cameron Morman, 26.1; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 32.7; 7. Bridger Chambers, 32.9; 8. Tyler Pearson, 33.5; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 36.6; 10. Kyle Irwin, 38.1; 11. Scott Guenthner, 40.7; 12. Ty Erickson, 41.3; 13. J.D. Struxness, 16.3 seconds on four; 14. Will Lummus, 17.8; 15. Tanner Brunner, 23.0 on three.
World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $174,273; 2. Hunter Cure, $158,568; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $151,694; 4. J.D. Struxness, $145,150; 5. Bridger Chambers, $140,785; 6. Dakota Eldridge, $140,180; 7. Scott Guenthner, $130,661; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, $127,015; 9. Kyle Irwin, $123,934; 10. Will Lummus, $122,767; 11. Tyler Pearson, $112,712; 12. Riley Duvall, $111,617; 13. Cameron Morman, $106,307; 14. Matt Reeves, $96,259; 15. Tanner Brunner, $84,950.
Team roping: 1. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.2 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 4.4, $18,192; 4. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 5.1, $11,000; 5. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.3, $6,769; 6. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 6.3, $4,231; 7. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 9.0; 8. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 9.5; 9. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 10.7; 10. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 20.8; 11. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, NT.
Average standings: 1. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 24.2 seconds on five head; 2. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 33.0; 3. Tate Kirchenschlager/Tyler Worley, 59.6; 4. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 20.2 seconds on four; 5. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 22.5; 6. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 22.6; 7. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 24.4; 8. Matt Sherwood/Hunter Koch, 24.9; 9. Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 25.8; 10. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 28.7; 11. Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 40.3; 12. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 27.2 seconds on three; 13. Erich Rogers/Kyle Lockett, 28.0; 14. Ty Blasingame/Travis Graves, 10.5 seconds on two; 15. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 14.1.
World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $213,820; 2. Chad Masters, $164,759; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $153,558; 4. Coleman Proctor, $153,241; 5. Brenten Hall, $139,119; 6. Tyler Wade, $135,856; 7. Riley Minor, $134,303; 8. Clay Tryan, $133,896; 9. Cody Snow, $127,477; 10. Luke Brown, $123,708; 11. Ty Blasingame, $111,490; 12. Matt Sherwood, $111,166; 13. Erich Rogers, $99,653; 14. Tate Kirchenschlager, $93,071; 15. Jake Cooper, $90,524.
World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $171,946; 2. Joseph Harrison, $167,508; 3. Ryan Motes, $158,089; 4. Junior Nogueira, $150,877; 5. Jake Long, $137,627; 6. Chase Tryan, $136,537; 7. Cole Davison, $134,371; 8. Brady Minor, $134,303; 9. Paul Eaves, $128,216; 10. Kyle Lockett, $124,384; 11. Wesley Thorp, $119,719; 12. Hunter Koch, $119,269; 13. Travis Graves, $113,165; 14. Caleb Anderson, $89,723; 15. Tyler Worley, $88,524.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Watson, 92 points on Burch Rodeo's Lunatic From Hell, $26,231; 2. Rusty Wright, 90.5, $20,731; 3. Spencer Wright, 89, $15,654; 4. Brody Cress, 88, $11,000; 5. Ryder Wright, 85, $6,769; 6. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Colt Gordon, 82, $2,115 each; 8. Chase Brooks, Jacobs Crawley, Sterling Crawley, Jesse Wright, Mitch Pollock, Dawson Hay and J.J. Elshere, NS; 15. Bradley Harter, INJ.
Average standings: 1. Rusty Wright, 430.5 points on five head; 2. Brody Cress, 421.5; 3. Spencer Wright, 346.5 points on four; 4. Zeke Thurston, 343; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 249 on three; 6. Colt Gordon, 244; 7. Jake Watson, 179 on two; 8. Chase Brooks, 176; 9. Jesse Wright, 175; 10. (tie) Ryder Wright and Dawson Hay, 171.5; 12. (tie) Bradley Harter and J.J. Elshere, 86.5 on one; 14. Mitch Pollock, 84; 15. Sterling Crawley, 80.5.
World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $251,722; 2. Ryder Wright, $241,258; 3. Rusty Wright, $195,884; 4. Spencer Wright, $179,323; 5. Brody Cress, $167,205; 6. Chase Brooks, $159,847; 7. Jacobs Crawley, $150,897; 8. Jake Watson, $150,522; 9. Jesse Wright, $132,736; 10. Sterling Crawley, $131,197; 11. Bradley Harter, $127,543; 12. Dawson Hay, $125,965; 13. J.J. Elshere, $119,004; 14. Mitch Pollock, $109,542; 15. Colt Gordon, $103,186.
Tie-down roping: 1. Ty Harris, 7.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Riley Pruitt, 7.7, $20,731; 3. Shane Hanchey, 7.9, $15,654; 4. Tuf Cooper, 8.0, $11,000; 5. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Adam Gray, 8.1, $5,500 each; 7. Michael Otero, 8.4; 8. (tie) Haven Meged and Taylor Santos, 8.7; 10. Tyler Milligan, 9.1; 11. Rhen Richard, 9.7; 12. Marty Yates, 11.5; 13. Caleb Smidt, 19.5; 14. Shad Mayfield and Cooper Martin, NT.
Average standings: 1. Taylor Santos, 41.5 seconds on five head; 2. Tuf Cooper, 42.0; 3. Haven Meged, 42.3; 4. Tyson Durfey, 44.4; 5. Marty Yates, 44.6; 6. Rhen Richard, 49.4; 7. Tyler Milligan, 53.1; 8. Riley Pruitt, 56.0; 9. Caleb Smidt, 64.1; 10. Shane Hanchey, 30.1 on four; 11. Michael Otero, 36.6; 12. Shad Mayfield, 39.7; 13. Cooper Martin, 43.2; 14. Adam Gray, 45.5; 15. Ty Harris, 25.2 on three.
World standings: 1. Shane Hanchey, $201,043; 2. Haven Meged, $167,744; 3. Marty Yates, $162,085; 4. Tuf Cooper, $152,823; 5. Riley Pruitt, $150,997; 6. Taylor Santos, $150,753; 7. Ty Harris, $147,207; 8. Tyson Durfey, $142,763; 9. Caleb Smidt, $141,900; 10. Tyler Milligan, $134,974; 11. Shad Mayfield, $127,075; 12. Michael Otero, $111,924; 13. Adam Gray, $107,673; 14. Cooper Martin, $100,491; 15. Rhen Richard, $98,661.
Barrel racing: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 13.56 seconds, $26,231; 2. Amberleigh Moore, 13.63, $20,731; 3. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 13.77, $15,654; 4. Hailey Kinsel, 13.86, $11,000; 5. Jennifer Sharp, 13.88, $6,769; 6. Lacinda Rose, 13.92, $4,231; 7. (tie) Cheyenne Wimberley and Emily Miller, 13.95; 9. Shali Lord, 13.96; 10. Jessica Routier, 13.97; 11. Nellie Miller, 14.07; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.10; 13. Stevi Hillman, 18.78; 14. Lisa Lockhart, 18.92; 15. Ericka Nelson, 18.99.
Average standings: 1. Emily Miller, 68.59 seconds on five runs; 2. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 69.36; 3. Jessica Routier, 69.45; 4. Nellie Miller, 69.89; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 70.01; 6. Shali Lord, 70.03; 7. Jennifer Sharp, 70.06; 8. Lacinda Rose, 70.81; 9. Dona Kay Rule, 74.07; 10. Hailey Kinsel, 74.09; 11. Lisa Lockhart, 74.47; 12. Amberleigh Moore, 78.59; 13. Ericka Nelson, 79.86; 14. Stevi Hillman, 84.51; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, 85.39.
World standings: 1. Emily Miller, $196,991; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $194,828; 3. Amberleigh Moore, $181,752; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $181,313; 5. Nellie Miller, $175,611; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $174,623; 7. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, $140,923; 8. Jessica Routier, $138,736; 9. Stevi Hillman, $130,989; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $122,273; 11. Shali Lord, $121,776; 12. Jennifer Sharp, $114,024; 13. Ericka Nelson, $110,202; 14. Lacinda Rose, $103,167; 15. Cheyenne Wimberley, $100,361.
Bull riding: 1. Daylon Swearingen, 92 points on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.'s War Cry, $26,231; 2. Koby Radley, 90.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Sage Kimzey and Tyler Bingham, 89, $13,327 each; 5. (tie) Jordan Spears and Clayton Sellars, 86, $5,500 each; 7. Jeff Askey, 85.5; 8. Trey Benton III, 85; 9. Stetson Wright, Josh Frost, Garrett Smith, Jordan Hansen, Trey Kimzey and Boudreaux Campbell, NS.
Average standings: 1. Koby Radley, 351.5 points on four; 2. Sage Kimzey, 347.5; 3. Trey Benton III, 264.5 on three; 4. Boudreaux Campbell, 262; 5. Tyler Bingham, 259; 6. Jordan Spears, 252.5; 7. Stetson Wright, 183.5 on two; 8. Jordan Hansen, 179.5; 9. Garrett Smith, 178.5; 10. (tie) Jeff Askey and Clayton Sellars, 170.5; 12. Daylon Swearingen, 92 on one; 13. Trey Kimzey, 86; 14. Trevor Kastner and Josh Frost, NS.
World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $314,598; 2. Stetson Wright, $214,883; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, $196,143; 4. Koby Radley, $178,849; 5. Trey Benton III, $175,995; 6. Garrett Smith, $171,769; 7. Tyler Bingham, $166,508; 8. Jordan Hansen, $163,811; 9. Trevor Kastner, $159,100; 10. Daylon Swearingen, $148,068; 11. Clayton Sellars, $144,691; 12. Jordan Spears, $137,048; 13. Josh Frost, $129,561; 14. Jeff Askey, $127,925; 15. Trey Kimzey, $124,930.
All-Around Standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $245,461; 2. Clay Smith, $224,672; 3. Tuf Cooper, $206,986; 4. Caleb Smidt, $155,190; 5. Trevor Brazile, $129,754; 6. Landon McClaugherty, $112,119; 7. Steven Dent, $111,577; 8. Daylon Swearingen, $107,151; 9. Rhen Richard, $104,653; 10. Josh Frost, $92,732.
