Cole Patterson on Cusp of Winning Gold Buckle After Dominating Day 1 at NFSR
WHAT: National Finals Steer Roping
WHEN: Nov. 13, 7 p.m. (CT), Rounds 6 through 10
WHERE: Kansas Star Arena, Mulvane, Kan.
WATCH: On PRCA Cowboy Channel Plus App
COST: Tickets from $27, available at www.kansasstarcasino.com.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Top 15 steer ropers vying for a world championship and a share of $447,500.
ROUNDS: Pay six places. First ($9,155); second ($7,577); third ($5,998); fourth ($4,420); fifth ($2,841); sixth ($1,579)
AVERAGE: Pays six places. First ($27,347); second ($22,632); third place ($17,917); fourth ($13,202); fifth ($8,487); sixth ($4,715)
MULVANE, Kan. – A statement was made loud and clear by Cole Patterson at the National Finals Steer Roping Friday night.
Patterson, who came into the NFSR with a $39,415 lead in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, wasn’t about to let his grip on the top spot slip away at the Kansas Star Arena.
Patterson won Round 3 and placed in all five rounds to earn $38,806 in Day 1 to extend his world standings lead to $67,013.
“This feels great,” said Patterson, 26. “The draw is so important here in this building and I drew excellent all five rounds. I knew my first steer was really good and I could get off to a good start and then it just kept falling into place every round.”
Patterson leads the world standings with $143,322 followed by rookie Slade Wood with $76,309. Patterson earned $104,516 in the regular season, which ended Sept. 30, which set the steer roping regular season record.
Patterson placed second in Round 1 (10.3 seconds); fourth in Round 2 (12.2); and then won Round 3 (9.5). He followed that up with a second-place 11.2-second run in Round 4 and then another second-place 9.9-second run in Round 5.
“When you start off well, I think it calms you down,” Patterson said. “Everybody here is a little nervous, especially the first round. I imagine everybody will have a different attitude (Saturday) and there will be some fast times and there are a lot of good steers and a lot of good ropers who can tie them fast. I just tried to get off to a fast start with the good steers I had drawn (Friday night) and we will see what happens (Saturday night).”
This is Patterson’s third trip to the NFSR and third in a row. He now has two career round wins as he won Round 5 a year ago in 9.4 seconds.
Patterson leads the average with a 53.1-second time. Resistol All-Around and Steer Roping Rookie of the Year Wood is second in the average with a 60.1-seconds on five head.
“The mindset for Saturday is the same thing,” Cole said. “I’m going to go home back to Pratt (Kan., which is 90 minutes from Mulvane), with my dad (Rocky) and maybe breakaway a few tomorrow and come back and take care of business (Saturday night) and hopefully win the average.”
Wood, 19, earned the second most of any cowboy Friday – $22,073 – which left him thrilled.
“I felt prepared, and I felt sharp coming in here,” Wood said. “I have been here for three days now, and I was just ready to run that first one. Once I got the first one out of the way I kept things rolling and I’m just happy with the way things are going right now. I just want to finish what I started. I feel like if I rope the same way (Saturday) as I roped (Friday) it will be a good day and things will turn out the way I want them to.”
Wood is riding Junior, 12.
Now, only five rounds on Saturday night separate Patterson from his first gold buckle. If Patterson does reach the PRCA steer roping summit he will join his dad, Rocky, a four-time steer roping world champ in 2009-10, 2012 and 2016. Rocky earned $6,920 Friday night and is ninth in the world standings with $51,053.
“I imagine all 15 guys here are just like me and they think about winning that gold buckle every day,” Cole said. “To get to the NFSR in Mulvane you have to be committed and it is a year-long process. You are trying to get horses ready and keep them sound and ready to go and keep yourself sharp.”
Cole is riding Tigger, 16, the 2021 Nutrena Steer Roping Horse of the Year presented by AQHA at the Kansas Star.
“I couldn’t ask for any better from Tigger,” he said.
Thomas Smith won Round 1 with a 10.0-second time and then tied the Round 4 NFSR record with a 9.0-second winning time. Scott Snedecor set the Round 4 record in 2020.
Results from Day 1 of the National Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star in Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 12. The NFSR concludes Nov. 13 with the final five rounds:
Round 1: 1. Thomas Smith 10.0, $9,155; 2. Cole Patterson 10.3, $7,577; 3. Landon McClaugherty 11.0, $5,998; 4. Chet Herren 11.1, $4,420; 5. Slade Wood 11.3, $2,841; 6. J. Tom Fisher 12.4, $1,579; Cody Lee 12.5; Garrett Hale 12.8; Scott Snedecor 13.7; Taylor Santos 14.0; Rocky Patterson 14.5; Mike Chase 17.6; Jess Tierney 20.6; Vin Fisher Jr. 28.9; Cash Myers, NT
Round 2: 1. Slade Wood 11.7, $9,155; 2. Cash Myers 11.8, $7,577; 3. Scott Snedecor 12.0, $5,998; 4. Cole Patterson 12.2, $4,420; 5. Thomas Smith 13.3, $2,841; 6. Chet Herren 13.5, $1,579; Rocky Patterson 14.3; Taylor Santos 14.5; Garrett Hale 20.9; Jess Tierney 32.1; Landon McClaugherty NT; Mike Chase NT; J. Tom Fisher NT; Vin Fisher Jr. NT; Cody Lee NT
Round 3: 1. Cole Patterson 9.5, $9,155; 2. J. Tom Fisher 10.8, $7,577; 3. Slade Wood 11.6, $5,998; 4. Taylor Santos 12.1, $4,420; 5. Jess Tierney 12.7, $2,841; 6. Rocky Patterson 13.2, $1,579; Garrett Hale 18.1; Landon McClaugherty NT; Chet Herren NT; Scott Snedecor NT; Vin Fisher Jr. NT; Cash Myers NT; Cody Lee NT; Mike Chase NT; Thomas Smith NT
Round 4: 1. Thomas Smith *9.0. $9,155; 2. Cole Patterson 11.2, $7,577; 3. (tie) Jess Tierney 11.9, $5,209; J. Tom Fisher 11.9, $5,209; 5. Rocky Patterson 12.3, $2,841; Landon McClaugherty 13.7, $1,579; Scott Snedecor 14.3; Slade Wood 14.4; Cash Myers 16.5; Chet Herren 20.7; Garrett Hale NT; Vin Fisher Jr. NT; Cody Lee NT; Mike Chase NT; Taylor Santos NT
Round 5: 1. Landon McClaugherty 9.7, $9,155; 2. Cole Patterson 9.9, $7,577; 3. Mike Chase 10.8, $5,998; 4. (tie) Jess Tierney 10.9, 3,631; J. Tom Fisher 10.9, $3,631; 6. Slade Wood 11.1, $1,579; Cody Lee 11.3; Garrett Hale 14.9; Chet Herren 16.7; Scott Snedecor NT; Vin Fisher Jr. NT; Cash Myers NT; Thomas Smith NT; Taylor Santos NT; Rocky Patterson NT
*Tied the Round 4 NFSR record.
Average leaders through five rounds: 1. Cole Patterson 53.1/5; 2. Slade Wood 60.1/5; 3. Jess Tierney 88.2/5
PRCA | RAM World Standings
1. Cole Patterson $143,322; 2. Slade Wood $76,309; 3. J. Tom Fisher $68,412; 4. Vin Fisher Jr. $67,601; 5. Landon McClaugherty $64,970; 6. Scott Snedecor $63,155; 7. Jess Tierney $60,048; 8. Thomas Smith $58,243; 9. Rocky Patterson $51,053; 10. Chet Herren $45,506; 11. Garrett Hale $45,506; 12. Taylor Santos $43,814; 13. Cash Myers $43,734; 14. Mike Chase $42,893; 15. Cody Lee $36,418
CourCourtesy of PRCA