Lee Claims $15,000 Bonus in Asheville

By: Heather Croze June 10, 2014@ 09:00:00 PM

Mike Lee is currently fifth in the world standings. Photo by Scott Nolen / BullStockMedia.com.

PUEBLO, Colo. ― 2004 Professional Bull Riders World Champion Mike Lee is on fire this summer as the Decatur, Texas, native tallied his third consecutive PBR Touring Pro Division win with 175 points at the Jeff Robinson Invitational in Asheville, North Carolina, on June 6-7.

Furthermore, Lee picked up an additional $15,000 to add to his summer total thanks to a special bonus offered by Jeff Robinson and J.W. Hart if one rider were to win both of their respective TPD events. Along with winning the Jeff Robinson Invitational this weekend, Lee had previously won Hart’s J.W. Hart PBR Challenge on May 31 in Decatur, Texas.

However, after the first night of action in Asheville, it appeared as if Chase Outlaw would spoil Lee’s aspirations for claiming the $15,000 bonus. Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas) was in the lead and appeared poised for another TPD victory himself as he produced an 84-point ride on Friday night. He then followed that with an 88-point ride Saturday night before bucking off in the championship round.

Lee was able to rally for the victory on Saturday by covering both of his bulls, including an 88-point ride aboard Rango (Jeff Robinson) in the championship round, to sneak past Outlaw. Earlier in the night, Lee posted an 87-point ride in the second round of the two-day event.

Outlaw finished the event in second place with 172 points and earned $4,160.

Finishing in first place in Round 1 was Luis Blanco (Irving, Texas) with 87.5 points, while Kasey Hayes (Liberal, Kansas) and J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, North Carolina) were close behind with 86.5 points each. Blanco and Mauney were not able to cover their bulls in Round 2, however, and walked away with no additional points for the weekend.

Kaique de Oliveira claimed third place overall with 169.5 points, earning $2,815.20, after scoring 83 points in Round 2. He was one of only two riders to score points in the short go, notching an 86.5-point ride. Ryan Miller (Ft. Scott, Kansas) finished in fourth place with 162.5 points and $1,304.10.

Mauney did come away a winner in Asheville as he tallied a 90-point ride on KISS Animalize (Jeff Robinson) to win the $15,000 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Champions Challenge. He was the only rider to cover his bull in the four-man round which included Gage Gay (Staley, North Carolina), L.J. Jenkins (Porum, Oklahoma) and Lee.

At the Dusty Gliko Bull Riding Challenge in Belt, Montana, Stetson Lawrence (Trenton, North Dakota) was the only rider to put up scores in both rounds to come away with his third win in four weeks. Lawrence racked up 77 points in the long go and 89 points in the short go for 166 total points and $4,532.63. Lawrence also won an extra $1,000 when he made a 91-point ride aboard bounty bull Chocolate Thunder (Bird Rodeo Co.). Lawrence earned the right to attempt the bull after winning the event.

Dakota Beck (Moses Lake, Washington) finished in both second and fourth place as, per TPD rules, a bull rider may enter a TPD event as many times as he chooses; some riders have been known to enter two or even three times. Beck tallied 88 points on one bull and 87 points on another. He came away with $2,696.63 for second place and won $1,147.50 for fourth.

Guytin Tsosie (Burnham, New Mexico) captured third place with 87.5 points and $1,721.26.

At the Phillipsburg PBR event in Phillipsburg, Kansas, Jory Markiss (Missoula, Montana) took home first place with 174 points and earned $4,446.57. He was one of just two riders to go 2-for-2 on the weekend as he scored 86 and 88 points. While Clint Connelly also was able to ride both of his bulls, he couldn’t overtake Markiss. The Arnold, Nebraska, native finished with 164.5 points and $2,782.70 for second place.

Timmy Vaughan (Pleasant Hill, Missouri) finished in third place with 85 points and $1,721.26 and Brady Sims (Holt, Missouri) claimed fourth place with 83.5 points and $1,147.50.

On June 13-14, when Chad Berger hosts the DCB Bull Riding Challenge in Bismarck, North Dakota, fans will be in for a treat as two-time PBR World Champion Bull Bushwacker (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) will be bucking for the first time this summer. Bushwacker is slated to face four-time reigning PRCA champion J.W. Harris (May, Texas) in a special bounty match worth $100,000 if Harris can make the 8-second whistle. The Bismarck event will be a “who’s who” of Built Ford Tough Series riders as, along with Harris, Markus Mariluch (Elko, Nevada), Gay and Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) will be in attendance.

In Cincinnati, the Blue Def Velocity Tour makes a stop on June 14 at the US Bank Arena. Josh Faircloth (Randleman, North Carolina), Jason Malone (San Antonio, Texas) and Chad VanAmburg (Archdale, North Carolina) will be a few of the riders competing in the event.

Jenkins, currently ranked 12th in the PBR world standings, will highlight the Midland, Texas, PBR Touring Pro event on June 14. Along with Jenkins, Harve Stewart (Stephenville, Texas) and Jordan Hupp (Stephenville, Texas) are scheduled to ride.

Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Series Event Results:
June 2-3 at Jeff Robinson Invitational in Asheville, North Carolina

Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Total Points-Earnings)

1. Mike Lee B, 0-87-88-175.0 points, $6,437.70
2. Chase Outlaw A, 84-88-0-172.0 points, $4,160.70
3. Kaique de Oliveira, 0-83-86.5-169.5 points, $2,815.20
4. Ryan Miller, 80-82.5-0-162.5 points, $1,304.10
5. Luis Blanco, 87.5-0-0-87.5 points, $1,842.30

June 7 at the Dusty Gliko Bull Riding Challenge in Belt, Montana
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Total Points-Earnings)

1. Stetson Lawrence, 77-89-166.0 points, $4,532.63
2. Dakota Beck A, 88-0-88.0 points, $2,696.63
3. Guytin Tsosie, 87.5-0-87.5 points, $1,721.26
4. Dakota Beck B, 87-0-87.0 points, $1,147.50
5. Brady Oleson, 85.5-0-85.5 points, $654.08

June 7 at Phillipsburg Event in Phillipsburg, Kansas
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Total Points-Earnings

1. Jory Markiss, 86-88-174.0 points, $4,446.57
2. Clint Connelly, 77-87.5-164.5 points, $2,782.70
3. Timmy Vaughan, 85-0-85.0 points, $1,721.26
4. Brady Sims, 83.5-0-83.5 points, $1,147.50
5. Lane Nobles, 81-0-81.0 points, $487.68

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