Kimzey Wins Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale
by Bob Stephens | Sep 06, 2015
ELLENSBURG, WASH. – Although it seemed Sage Kimzey couldn’t possibly improve on his sensational rookie season when he won the bull riding world championship, the incredible Oklahoma cowboy did himself one better.
Well, make that two better.
Kimzey won the average title at the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale Sept. 5 with 170.5 points on two head. All he did last year was tie for the average title at the Tour Finale.
Mark that as one improvement.
His big night in Ellensburg also clinched the 2015 Xtreme Bulls year-end title, won last year by four-time World Champion J.W. Harris.
So it was a clean sweep of the Xtreme Bulls crowns for the bull rider that just turned 21 on Aug. 26.
“This year’s definitely been a blessing, and it’s been so much fun,” Kimzey said shortly after taking his victory lap in the Ellensburg arena. “The Xtreme Bulls year-end title is something I’ve always dreamed about winning since I was a little kid.”
Kimzey rode for 85 points on Flying 5 Rodeo’s No. 191 to take sixth in the long go. He rode for 85.5 points on Corey & Lange’s Crown Legend to get third in the short go.
He earned a total of $18,894 at the Tour Finale – including $14,100 for claiming the average title.
“The prize money here is unreal,” he said. “Winning here really gives me a big push for the end of the season. It’s so much fun to come here, and the Ellensburg committee does a great job.”
Kimzey entered the night as the Xtreme Bulls Tour leader with $34,608, which was nearly $4,000 ahead of second-place Tanner Learmont. He led the Aug. 31 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings with $121, 298 – more than $13,000 ahead of second-place Brennon Eldred, his traveling partner and fellow Oklahoman.
His big payday puts him $32,466 ahead of Eldred, although a single round win at the Dec. 3-12 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will pay more than $28,000.
“No lead is safe going into December,” Kimzey said. “It’s going to be a shootout in Las Vegas.”
The Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale paid out $94,000 – including eight places in the average race.
The night began with the top 40 cowboys in the Xtreme Bulls standings squaring off in the long go. The top 12 riders from the first round advanced to the short go.
Parker Breding won the short go when he rode for 88.5 points on Flying Diamond Rodeo’s Bottle Rocket. That earned him $6,204 for winning the round.
Bryce Barrios won the long go with a ride of 91 points on Flying Diamond Rodeo’s Moose Jaw. He was the last rider in the short go, but was bucked off.
Barrios, from Bluff Dale, Texas, was the Resistol Rookie Standings leader with $29,120 coming into the night. Before the Tour Finale, he was ranked 28th in the Xtreme Bulls Tour standings.
Barrios earned $8,460 for winning the long go, which paid eight places. Clayton Foltyn took second and won $6,486 with his ride for 88.5 points.
Only three cowboys rode both of their bulls: Kimzey, Breding and Joe Frost. Frost was second in the short go and third in the average. Barrios, on the strength of his great ride in round one, was fourth in the average.
Read more about the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale in the Sept. 25 ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA