Leme Wins Corpus Christi Chute Out

By: Mandi McCary
December 01, 2018

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Cheered on by the Texas crowd for the only 90-plus point ride of the night, Brazilian phenom Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) won the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Velocity Tour event Saturday night inside the American Bank Center Arena.

Following an 87-point ride aboard Gin Palace (Tyler Ball/JW Hart) in Round 1 of the Corpus Christi Chute Out, the No. 2-ranked bull rider in the world recorded the highest score of the night with a 91.5-point ride aboard Sosa’s Alley Cat (JD Nix/Sosa Buckers) in the championship round. The win earned him 196 world points and a $7,100 paycheck.

Oklahoma cowboy Brennon Eldred (Sulphur, Oklahoma) finished second, collecting a paycheck for $4,650 along with 95 world points. He rode to the runner-up finish compliments of his 86.5-point ride aboard Buck Dynasty (Ray’s Cattle Co/ New Star Pro Rodeo) and later on Livin Lucky (JD Nix Rodeo Co.) in the championship round for 85.5 points.

Third place went to three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil), for making the 8 on Sal T (Harrison/Swearingen) in Round 1 for 85 points. Later in the championship round, the veteran Brazilian rider conquered Reaper (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) for 86.5 points. For his efforts he collected $3,100 and 55 world points.

Texas cowboy Austin Richardson (Wilmer, Texas) finished fourth, backed by an 87.5-point effort on High Voltage (Rawson/Obernagel/Daisy’s Bucking Bulls) in the opening round. Despite being dispatched off Da Boss (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) in the championship round he leaves Corpus Christi with $2,600 and 70 world points.

Rounding out the Top 5 was Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas), who recorded an impressive 86.5-point ride in the opening round aboard Fat Boy (JQH Bucking Bulls-Skip & Elaine Jones). His matchup against Spotted Fever (JD Nix Rodeo Co.) didn’t make the 8 in the championship round but the young gun collected $1,290 and 20 world points for his efforts.

Hardball, a bovine athlete owned by Bryce Cooper and Scruggs Bucking Bulls, took home the top spot for the evening. He received a 45-point bull score after firing out of the chutes and dispatching Justin Granger (Tuba City, Arizona) in 3.03 seconds.

The Velocity Tour next travels to Oakland, California, for the Oakland Classic on Saturday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m. PT.

Velocity Tour Event Results
Corpus Christi Chute Out – American Bank Center Arena – Corpus Christi, Texas
Name, Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points

1. Jose Vitor Leme, 87-91.5-178.50-195 Points.
2. Brennon Eldred, 86.5-85.5-172.00-95 Points.
3. Silvano Alves, 85-86.5-171.50-55 Points.
4. Austin Richardson, 87.5-0-87.50-70 Points.
5. Ezekiel Mitchell, 86.5-0-86.50-20 Points.
6. Bryan Titman, 86-0-86.00-7.5 Points.
(tie). Cannon Cravens, 86-0-86.00-7.5 Points.
8. Justin Granger, 85.5-0-85.50
9. Tye Chandler, 85-0-85.00
(tie). Chase Robbins, 85-0-85.00
11. Garret Lange, 84.5-0-84.50
(tie). Francisco Garcia Torres, 84.5-0-84.50
(tie). Alex Cardozo, 84.5-0-84.50

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