Lee Wins First 15/15 Bucking Battle of 2017

CHICAGO – The first PBR (Professional Bull Riders) 15/15 Bucking Battle of the 2017 season went to a savvy veteran as 2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) claimed the victory Friday night at Allstate Arena immediately after Round 1 of the Chicago Invitational.

Lee earned the victory after an 87.75-point ride on Handsome Jeff (K-C/Josie McElroy Bucking Bulls/Spark-lin Acres) and picked up 150 world standings points for the finish in the special round along with a payout of $8,666.67. He also earned 45 world points and $1,650 for tying for third place in Round 1 after riding Beast of Burden (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/H&C Bucking Bulls) for 85.75 points earlier in the evening.

Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) was not far behind, turning in an 87.25-point trip aboard Big Cat (Dakota Rodeo/Struve/Berger/Heald) to finish second in the special round. He earned 90 points toward the world standings along with $6,666.67.

Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) finished third in the 15/15 Bucking Battle and earned 75 world points for the effort. He also took home $5,666.67. Vieira rode Cooper Tires Semper Fi (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) for 86.5 points.

CBS Sports will broadcast the 15/15 Bucking Battle Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.

Earlier in the evening, Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) and Gage Gay (Staley, North Carolina) tied for first place in Round 1. Pacheco and Gay turned in identical 86.25-point scores on Fire Bender (Cornwell Bucking Bulls) and Tractor Tippin (Rocking I Rodeo Co.) respectively. The pair picked up 80 points toward the world standings each along with a paycheck of $3,165.

Gay is riding just five days after suffering what appeared to be a fairly horrific injury during Round 3 in New York City last weekend. The bull stepped on Gay’s neck and despite the blood, only gave the 22-year old what looks like a bad rug burn.

Brady Sims (Holt, Missouri) tied with Lee for third place in Round 1 after his own 85.75-point ride on Shake It Up (Jenkins Cattle Co.). Sims, who is competing in Chicago as an alternate, earned 45 points toward the world standings along with $1,650.

Nathan Schaper (Grassy Butte, North Dakota) and Alex Cardozo (Indaiatuba, Brazil) tied for fifth place after matching 85.25-point rides. Schaper covered Mister Mean (Jenkins Cattle Co.), while Cardozo reached 8 seconds aboard Machinery Auctioneer’s Little Joe (Rocking I Rodeo Co.). Each earned $725.

The Top 35 bull riders in the world will be back at it Saturday night when they return to Allstate Arena for Round 2 of the Chicago Invitational. The action starts on PBR LIVE at 7:15 p.m. ET.

PBR Digital Editor Kristian Limas contributed to this report.

Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series
15/15 Bucking Battle
Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Event Leaders (Round 1-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Mike Lee, 87.75-87.75-150 Points.
2. Eduardo Aparecido, 87.25-87.25-90 Points.
3. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 86.5-86.50-75 Points.
Jess Lockwood, 0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0.00
Fabiano Vieira, 0-0.00
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0.00
Mason Lowe, 0-0.00
Gage Gay, 0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0.00
Paulo Ferreira Lima, 0-0.00
Guilherme Marchi, 0-0.00
Shane Proctor, 0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0.00

Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series
Chicago Invitational
Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Kaique Pacheco, 86.25-0-0-0-86.25-80 Points.
(tie). Gage Gay, 86.25-0-0-0-86.25-80 Points.
3. Mike Lee, 85.75-0-0-0-85.75-45 Points.
(tie). Brady Sims, 85.75-0-0-0-85.75-45 Points.
5. Alex Cardozo, 85.25-0-0-0-85.25-22.5 Points.
(tie). Nathan Schaper, 85.25-0-0-0-85.25-22.5 Points.
7. Ryan Dirteater, 85-0-0-0-85.00-5 Points.
8. Stormy Wing, 84.5-0-0-0-84.50
9. Marco Antonio Eguchi, 84-0-0-0-84.00
10. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 83.5-0-0-0-83.50
11. Jess Lockwood, 83-0-0-0-83.00
12. Justin Paton, 82.75-0-0-0-82.75
13. Rubens Barbosa, 82.25-0-0-0-82.25
14. Fabiano Vieira, 82-0-0-0-82.00
(tie). Guilherme Marchi, 82-0-0-0-82.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Mason Lowe, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Reese Cates, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Kurt Shephard, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Joao Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Nevada Newman, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Heffernan, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Brant Atwood, 0-0-0-0-0.00
J.W. Harris, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Robson Aragao, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Paulo Ferreira Lima, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luis Blanco, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Shane Proctor, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Tyler Harr, 0-0-0-0-0.00