Ernie Courson Jr. Cashes in with RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo Victory
Ernie Courson, Jr. would never be considered a couch potato.
While most cowboys who’ve been on the road all season take a well-deserved break at the conclusion of the regular season on Sept. 30, Courson opted for full steam ahead, rodeoing his way right up to the RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo on Nov. 11-13 in Davie, Fla.
With more than $5,000 already banked for 2023, Courson scored a huge repeat victory, winning the average with 164 points on two bulls and stuffing a massive $12,639 in his pockets.
“Second year in a row,” said Courson, 28. “I knew I could win one, but to win two, back-to-back, man, that’s unbelievable. It’s kind of exciting.”
It capped a terrific season for Courson who nearly qualified for his first Wrangler NFR after winning more than $83,000 in 2022.
“It was a great year,” Courson said. “It started after winning the circuit finals down here last year and winning a big ol’ pile of money, enough for me to go ahead and get out there on the road.”
“At first, I didn’t believe in myself the way everyone else around me did,” he said. “But after I went to San Antonio and tied with Sage Kimzey on the first one, it was like, ok, I’m supposed to be out here.”
Courson was 10th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings when a bad wreck at the Xtreme Bulls event in Reno, Nev., in June knocked him out of action. After dropping all the way to 32nd, he returned to competition faster than expected, battling back to finish 20th in the final world standings after making the midseason adjustment to riding with a helmet for the first time.
“I was riding like 50 percent before I got my face smashed,” he said. “I think I rode the first one back in the helmet but then bucked off like 16 in a row. I got slammed on the ground so many times, I thought, I better figure this deal out.”
“I have to thank 100X Helmets for making the best helmet,” he said with a laugh. “It took a pretty good beating with me this year.”
In Davie, Courson won the first-round win aboard Clifford from Universal Pro Rodeos with 84 points and split the win in the third round with Ethan Ray after covering Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Swamp Ghost for 80 points.
“I feel like every fan down there knows me,” he laughed of Davie. “When I’m running down the fence, they’re yelling, ‘backflip! backflip!’ (his signature move after a win). The fans fuel the fire.”
With a great start in 2023, Courson is locked into earning his spot in Las Vegas and armed with valuable lessons learned in his first full season of rodeoing.
“It’s a long summer, don’t beat yourself up,” he said of the biggest takeaway from 2022. “I took my family with me and had so much fun, met a bunch of really cool guys who helped me so much. I have a lot to look forward to for next year.”
Just don’t expect to find him in his Okeechobee living room.
“I can’t sit on the couch and not get on bulls,” he laughed.
Other winners at the $223,333 rodeo were all-around cowboy Justin Thigpen ($5,640 in tie-down roping and steer wrestling); bareback rider Luke Thrash (251 points on three head); steer wrestler Joshua Hefner (11.4 seconds on three head); team ropers Cole Thomas/Bryce Graves (16.4 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Ryder Sanford (241 points on three head); tie-down roper Andrew Burks (26.2 on three head); barrel racer Erin Wetzel (44.10 seconds on three runs); and breakaway roper Heather McLaughlin (7.5 seconds on three head).
Courtesy of PRCA