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Biglow Opens WNFR in the Money

Clayton Biglow of Clements, Calif., rides for 84 points during Thursday’s first go-round of the National Finals Rodeo. (ROBBY FREEMAN PHOTOGRAPHER)

LAS VEGAS – After starting the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo slowly, Clayton Biglow made a big change to kick off the 2018 championship.

On Thursday, Biglow rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Molly Brown for 74 points to finish in a tie for fifth place on opening night of ProRodeo’s grand finale, pocketing $5,500 in the process.

“I feel like that horse got a little weak at the end, but it felt good,” said Biglow, 22, of Clements, Calif. “I got a little weak at the end, too, so there’s always room for improvement.

“It will be nice to start it with making money in the first round instead of waiting until the sixth round.”

That’s what happened 12 months ago, but he’s already surpassed that start. He’ll have another chance during Friday’s second round, when he will be matched with Frontier Rodeo’s Tip Off, a horse Biglow has ridden before.

“I got on her at Dodge City (Kan.) during the short round, and it was a really good horse,” he said. “I’m super excited for tomorrow.

“This helps the confidence a ton. It’s hard to get going in the wrong direction and turn it around. Being in the money in the first round is great for me, and I plan on being in the money every night.”

That’s important. In rodeo, dollars equal points, and the contestants in each event who finish the season with the most money will be crowned world champions.

“I didn’t come here to win rounds; I came here to win a gold buckle,” Biglow said. “Rounds are what’s going to get me there, but for the last 18 or 19 years, I’ve been thinking about a gold buckle. I had a shot last year, and it slipped out of my fingers. I don’t want that to happen again this year.”

While he remains third in the world standings, he did edge closer to the leader, two-time reigning world champion Tim O’Connell. Biglow knows he needs to keep adding pressure to the top man in the game by catching as many checks as possible.

He has nine more nights in the 2018 ProRodeo season to do it.

Courtesy of twisTEDrodeo.com

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