PRCA Standings Shuffle: 24 Move Up in Top 15
As the temperature rises, so does the level of ProRodeo competition. From June 3-9, 24 ProRodeo athletes cashed in big to climb within the Top 15 of their respective events.
With 29 PRCA competitions worth a collective $1,347,562 last week, it took quite a bit of prize money to keep pace and even more to gain ground within the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings.
So far, the 2019 season payoff has exceeded $19.1 million across 270 competitions, which is about half the total payoff registered for the 2018 season. The 2018 season had 643 competitions worth $38,564,889. With more than three months left in the season, there’s still time to catch up between now and the end of September.
Cowboys know it’s easier to maintain a position at the top than it is to play catch-up when trying to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Every dollar counts, and making the Top 15 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings early establishes a solid base and builds a cowboy’s confidence as the summer run approaches.
Nobody knows this better than steer roper Chet Herren, who jumped six places last week from 12th to sixth in the steer roping world standings thanks to winning the Woodward (Okla.) Elks Rodeo in 42.8 seconds on three head. The Kansas cowboy’s three runs earned him $4,248.
In an interesting note, the Top 15 for bull riding had six times as much upward movement as saddle bronc riding did last week. Rusty Wright was the only saddle bronc rider to change positions within the Top 15, while six bull riders moved up in their world standings.
Cowboys will have 24 PRCA competitions to choose from through June 16, including the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb., and the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo in Weatherford, Texas. Both run June 12-15. With plenty of prize money on the table, big jumps are sure to happen again.
The following cowboys also moved up within the Top 15 last week.
Five Spots
• Stephen Culling moved from 11th to sixth in steer wrestling.
Four Spots
• Jess Tierney moved from 14th to 10th in steer roping.
Three Spots
• Chase Tryan moved from 17th to 14th in team roping heeling.
Two Spots
• Stetson Wright moved from seventh to fifth in bull riding.
• Garrett Smith moved from 10th to eighth in bull riding.
• Cole Patterson moved from 13th to 11th in steer roping.
• Jake Brown moved from 14th to 12th in bareback riding.
• Wyatt Denny moved from 15th to 13th in bareback riding.
• Brenten Hall moved from 17th to 15th in team roping heading.
One Spot
• Vin Fisher Jr. moved from second to first in steer roping.
• Scott Guenthner moved from third to second in steer wrestling.
• Brady Minor moved from fourth to third in team roping heeling.
• Parker Breding moved from fourth to third in bull riding.
• Tony Reina moved from sixth to fifth in steer roping.
• Cameron Morman moved from eighth to seventh in steer wrestling.
• Hunter Koch moved from eighth to seventh in team roping heeling.
• Taylor Santos moved from 10th to ninth in tie-down roping.
• Rusty Wright moved from 11th to 10th in saddle bronc riding.
• Dakota Eldridge moved from 13th to 12th in steer wrestling.
• Cooper Martin moved from 13th to 12th in tie-down roping.
• Josh Frost moved from 13th to 12th in bull riding.
• Lon Danley moved from 14th to 13th in bull riding.
• Aaron Williams moved from 16th to 15th in bull riding.
Cowboys on the bubble for a spot in the Top 15 can find themselves a few dollars short of qualifying for the Wrangler NFR. The following cowboys climbed the standings to No. 16.
• Bareback rider Clint Laye moved from 19th and is $1,150 away from breaking into the Top 15.
• Team roping header Steven Duby moved from 19th and is $2,311 away from breaking into the Top 15.
• Team roping heeler Trey Yates moved from 22nd and is $1,046 away from breaking into the Top 15.
• Tie-down roper Tyler Milligan moved from 17th and is $80 away from breaking into the Top 15.
• Steer roper Rocky Patterson moved from 17th and is $1,029 away from breaking into the Top 15.
• Bull rider Ruger Piva moved from 23rd and is $1,314 away from breaking into the Top 15.
Check back with ProRodeo.com next week to see who the leaders are in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.
Courtesy of PRCA