Davis Wins Round 1 in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) continued gaining momentum in the World Championship race when he picked up the Round 1 win in the Built Ford Tough Series PFIWestern.com Invitational, presented by Bass Pro Shops, Friday night at JQH Arena.

Davis secured the round victory with an impressive 87.5-point ride aboard Relentless (Cord McCoy / Joe & Nina Webb). The victory was Davis’ second round win in as many weeks and his seventh of the season, tying him for the BFTS lead. For the round win, he took home 100 world points and $3,580.

Davis, the No. 6 ranked rider in the world, trails current world leader Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba. Brazil) by 1,234.17 points.

19-year-old rookie Koal Livingston (Burleson, Texas) came in second place in Friday night’s Round 1. Livingston reached 8 seconds aboard Trump Train (K-C Bucking Bulls/ Nothin But Try Ranch) for 86.75 points. The ride was Livingston’s first on the BFTS since Round 1 of Last Cowboy Standing in Las Vegas this past May.

The performance helped Livingston net 60 world points and $2,750, which moved him up one spot in the world standings from No. 29 to No. 28.

Rubens Barbosa (Iaciara, Brazil) was not far behind in third place after riding In Like Flynn (Owens/Flinn) for 86.5 points. The ride broke an 11 consecutive buckoff streak for Barbosa that dated back to this past April in Tacoma, Washington.

The streak-breaking ride earned Barbosa 50 world points and $2,000.

Barbosa also earned the chance to attempt Shakey (McConnell’s Bucking Cattle) in a special bonus match following Round 1 after Davis and Livingston opted out of the challenge. Shakey bucked off Barbosa in 3.27 seconds.

2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee (Paradise, Texas) came in fourth place Friday night after turning in an 86-point effort aboard Big Dirty (Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger/Clay Struve). Lee took home 40 world points $1,300 for the effort.

World No. 2 Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) rounded out the Top 5 after an 85.5-point ride on Smooth Over (GT Bucking Bulls). The 30 world points and $850 he earned helped him gain ground on Pacheco, who was bucked off in Round 1. Aparecido now trails his countryman by 180 points.

American Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) held the first part of their Big Tex Classic event for three and four-year-old bulls in conjunction with Round 1 of the Springfield event. The leading bull after the first round was Cody Ohl’s and Angel Myers’ Death Row with a score of 89.5. In second was Tan Linesfrom Mike Oakes with an 89.25. With an 88.5, Element from Dakota Rodeo / Chad Berger / Clay Struve / Heald Pro Bulls was third. Fourth place belonged to Jack & Dot Verbois / D&H Cattle’s Wiz Train with an 88. Rounding out the Top 5 ABBI bulls after night one was Livin’ Large from Martinez Bucking bulls with an 87.75.

For complete official results at the conclusion of the multi-night event, visit AmericanBuckingBull.com. The top 40 ABBI Classic bulls in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season on October 2 will get to compete in Las Vegas at the ABBI World Finals in Las Vegas, where the winner will take home $200,000.

The Top 35 bull riders in the world will return to JQH Arena Saturday night for Round 2 of the PFIWestern.com Invitational, presented by Bass Pro Shops. Each rider will face a second bull as they jockey for position heading into Championship Sunday.

Round 2 will begin at 7:15 pm ET on PBR LIVE and the PBR LIVE app.

Following Round 2, the Top 15 riders and the Top 15 bulls with faceoff in the 15/15 Bucking Battle. The special bonus round of competition will offer a crucial extra 150 world points to the winner.

The 15/15 Bucking Battle will be broadcast on CBS national television on Sunday Sept. 10 at 3 pm ET.

PBR Digital Editor Kristian Limas contributed to this report.

Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series
PFIWestern.com Invitational, presented by Bass Pro Shops
JQH Arena, Springfield, Missouri
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Round 5-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Cooper Davis, 87.5-0-0-0-0-87.50-100 Points.
2. Koal Livingston, 86.75-0-0-0-0-86.75-60 Points.
3. Rubens Barbosa, 86.5-0-0-0-0-86.50-50 Points.
4. Mike Lee, 86-0-0-0-0-86.00-40 Points.
5. Eduardo Aparecido, 85.5-0-0-0-0-85.50-30 Points.
6. Gage Gay, 85-0-0-0-0-85.00-15 Points.
7. Brennon Eldred, 82.5-0-0-0-0-82.50-5 Points.
8. Nevada Newman, 76.5-0-0-0-0-76.50
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Jess Lockwood, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Stormy Wing, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Joao Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Mason Lowe, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Marco Antonio Eguchi, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Shane Proctor, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Guilherme Marchi, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Troy Wilkinson, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Emilio Resende, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Buttar, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Brock Radford, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Rodeo Tyler, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Kurt Shephard, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Lachlan Richardson, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Luis Blanco, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Zane Cook, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00