Standings Shuffle: 33 Move Up in Top 15

With only a month left in the 2018 season, it’s a mad dash to the finish line. The 23 PRCA rodeos held across North America, Aug. 20-26, presented a $1.24 million opportunity for cowboys to improve their positions in the world standings. With so much money up for grabs, 33 cowboys climbed within the Top 15.

Veteran and rookie cowboys know it’s easier to maintain a position at the top than it is to play catch-up when trying to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Every dollar counts, and making the Top 15 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings early establishes a solid base and builds a cowboy’s confidence as the season picks up pace.

Nobody knows this better than team roping header Rhen Richard, who moved from 22nd to 12th. Richard moved 10 spots this week thanks to winning $5,268 at the Horse Heaven / Kennewick (Wash.) Round-Up, $3,422 at the Kitsap Stampede in Bremerton, Wash., $2,030 at the Golden Spike Rodeo in Tremonton, Utah. He also won $1,486 in tie-down roping at the Gem State Stampede in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

The following cowboys saw their positions improve in the PRCA World Standings during the week.

Nine Spots

• Quinn Kesler moved from 24th to 15th in team roping heeling.

Five Spots

• Erich Rogers moved from 16th to 11th in team roping heading.

Four Spots

• Vin Fisher Jr. moved from ninth to fifth in steer roping.
• Tanner Brunner moved from 10th to sixth in steer wrestling.
• Eli Vastbinder moved from 11th to seventh in bull riding.

Three Spots

• Will Lummus moved from seventh to fourth in steer wrestling.
• Caleb Smidt moved from ninth to sixth in tie-down roping.
• Clint Summers moved from 11th to eighth in team roping heeling.
• Chase Dougherty moved from 12th to ninth in bull riding.
• J. Tom Fisher moved from 14th to 11th in steer roping.
• Tanner Milan moved from 16th to 13th in steer wrestling.

Two Spots

• Dustin Egusquiza moved from third to first in team roping heading.
• Kory Koontz moved from third to first in team roping heeling.
• Bubba Buckaloo moved from sixth to fourth in team roping heading.
• Chris Glover moved from sixth to fourth in steer roping.
• Cole Melancon moved from eighth to sixth in bull riding.
• Chad Masters moved from 12th to 10th in team roping heading.
• Roscoe Jarboe moved from 16th to 14th in bull riding.

One Spot

• Ryder Wright moved from third to second in saddle bronc riding.
• Clayton Biglow moved from fourth to third in bareback riding.
• Isaac Diaz moved from fifth to fourth in saddle bronc riding.
• Orin Larsen moved from sixth to fifth in bareback riding.
• Jake Pratt moved from sixth to fifth in tie-down roping.
• Rusty Wright moved from seventh to sixth in saddle bronc riding.
• Tyler Waguespack moved from eighth to seventh in steer wrestling.
• Wade Sundell moved from eighth to seventh in saddle bronc riding.
• Mason Clements moved from ninth to eighth in bareback riding.
• Tilden Hooper moved from 12th to 11th in bareback riding.
• Matt Shiozawa moved from 12th to 11th in tie-down roping.
• Hunter Cure moved from 13th to 12th in steer wrestling.
• Jarrett Blessing moved from 13th to 12th in steer roping.
• J.R. Vezain moved from 15th to 14th in bareback riding.

Cowboys on the bubble for a spot in the Top 15 can find themselves a few dollars short of qualifying for the Wrangler NFR. The following cowboys climbed to No. 16.

• Team roping header Derrick Begay moved from 17th and is $137 away from breaking into the Top 15.
• Bull rider Garrett Smith moved from 17th and is $1,331 away from breaking into the Top 15.

With the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo this weekend and the half-million-dollar Justin Finale on the horizon, the world standings are sure to change and possibly give a hint at who will qualify for the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

Check back with prorodeo.com next week to see who the new leaders are in the world standings.

Courtesy of PRCA