Kolbaba Wins Reno BlueDEF Tour Event

Reno, Nev. – Derek Kolbaba finished an impressive week with a victory at Lawlor Events Center with a total score of 176.5 points.

Kolbaba won his second consecutive BlueDEF Tour event, after capturing the title in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday. He then won a Touring Pro Division event in Pueblo, Colorado on Thursday. The three victories earned him over $37,000 in the last week, and he is now ranked fourth in the PBR world standings.

After riding Heat Wave (L4 Livestock) for 87 points in Round 1, Kolbaba won the event by riding Mr. Bull (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) for 89.5 points in the championship round.

Rounding out the Top-5 was Nevada Newman (2-for-2, 172.5 points), Lindomar Lino (2-for-2, 170) Tristan Mize (1-for-2, 88) and Adam Lucero (1-for-2, 87).

Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls’ Roy was the high-marked bull of the event, with a score of 46 points on a 4.93 second buckoff of Kurt Shepard in the championship round.

Kolbaba had been offered five exemptions to the Built Ford Tough Series because of his performance at the Denver BlueDEF Tour event this week. He is expected to compete at the BFTS Express Employment Professionals Invitational in Oklahoma City next weekend.

The BlueDEF Tour, presented by Real Time Pain Relief, heads to Yakima, Washington, next week. The action from the Yakima Valley SunDome starts at 7 p.m. PT.

The BlueDEF Finals will take place at South Point Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 29-31, leading into the PBR’s 2016 Built Ford Tough World Finals. The winner of the BlueDEF Finals, the second- and third-place finishers, and the top international performer, along with the 2016 BlueDEF Tour Champion, will each qualify to compete at the PBR World Finals.

Professional Bull Riders BlueDEF Tour Event Results:
Jan. 16 in Reno, Nevada

Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Total Ride Score)
1. Derek Kolbaba, 87.0-89.5-176.5
2. Nevada Newman, 86.5-86.0-172.5
3. Lindomar Lino, 84.5-85.5-170
4. Tristan Mize, 88.0-0-88.0
5. Adam Lucero, 87.0-0-87.0