Halverson Uses Round 1 Ride to Jump Into Top 35 as Race to Qualify for World Finals Intensifies
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – The 2021 PBR World Finals are less than a month away, and time is of the essence for any of the riders outside of the Top 35 hoping to step foot inside T-Mobile Arena on Nov. 3.
Conner Halverson is right in the thick of the battle in the middle of the world standings as he attempts to qualify for his first PBR World Finals. The 20-year-old took a helpful step forward Saturday night at the PBR Union Home Mortgage Invitational, presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Halverson rode Budakon for 86.5 points to finish Round 1 in fifth place (15 world points) and jump to No. 35 in the world standings. He began the evening in Greensboro ranked No. 37.
The Top 35 healthy/active riders in the world standings qualify for the World Finals. The possible cutoff in November could be No. 37 in the world standings, with No. 23 Colten Fritzlan (reconstructive shoulder surgery) out for the remainder of the season and No. 22 Alex Cerqueira currently in Brazil. Of course, that target line could move if other riders are injured before the Finals or if Fritzlan/Cerqueira were to drop out of the Top 35.
The simplest path to ensuring a spot at the PBR’s season-culminating event is to stack up rides before the Finals and get well within the Top 35.
Another rider joining Halverson in Round 1 who is also attempting to push his way to Las Vegas is 2018 PBR Brazil champion Fernando Henrique Novais.
Novais was a late addition to the Greensboro draw Thursday night when world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme withdrew from the event because of a core muscle injury.
The 35-year-old capitalized on the opportunity by riding Joker for 83.5 points. Novais placed ninth in Round 1, earning 11 world points and moving up two positions in the world rankings. The No. 39-ranked bull rider will head into Championship Sunday 30 points outside of the Top 35.
Novais has drawn Leroy (1-2, UTB) for Round 2, while Halverson will take on Buffalo Scott (10-6, UTB).
Fans can watch all of Championship Sunday on CBS Sports Network beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
There were 10 qualified rides in Round 1. Halverson and Novais were the only riders ranked 30th or below to reach the 8-second mark inside Greensboro Coliseum.
PACHECO AND DAVIS FAIL TO CAPITALIZE SATURDAY NIGHT IN GREENSBORO
World Champions Kaique Pacheco and Cooper Davis need to make up ground in the world title race before the World Finals begins if they want to increase their odds at surpassing Leme for the 2021 World Championship, especially with Leme sustaining a setback this week in the practice pen and being diagnosed with a core muscle injury.
While there is no exact timetable for when Leme will return, the likelihood of him returning before the Finals is extremely low because of this new injury.
However, Pacheco and Davis went a combined 0-for-4 on Saturday night during the 15/15 Bucking Battle and Round 1.
Davis was nearly a perfect 2-for-2 if not for a slap at 1.49 seconds against Hostage in the 15/15 Bucking Battle and then a crushing 7.97-second buckoff against Shark Bait in Round 1.
Pacheco was sent packing in under three seconds in both rounds. Blue Crush first dusted him in 2.73 seconds in the 15/15 before Freakin Wicked bucked him off in 2.26 seconds in Round 1.
The two riders can still make up ground in the title race on Sunday.
Pacheco (726.5 points behind Leme) takes on T-Bone (4-0, UTB/CFAC) in Round 2, while Davis (-809 points) faces Lost Highway (1–0, UTB). T-Bone bucked off Carlos Garcia in 3.02 seconds in Round 1, while Lost Highway took care of Eduardo Aparecido in 1.72 seconds.
Professional Bull Riders – PBR UNION HOME MORTGAGE INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS
Greensboro, NC, 2021 – Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. João Ricardo Vieira, 90.25-0-0-90.25-29 Points.
2. Claudio Montanha Jr., 89-0-0-89.00-18 Points.
3. Boudreaux Campbell, 88.75-0-0-88.75-17 Points.
4. Marco Eguchi, 87-0-0-87.00-16 Points.
5. Conner Halverson, 86.5-0-0-86.50-15 Points.
6. Junior Patrik Souza, 86-0-0-86.00-14 Points.
7. Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 85-0-0-85.00-13 Points.
8. Silvano Alves, 83.75-0-0-83.75-12 Points.
9. Fernando Henrique Novais, 83.5-0-0-83.50-11 Points.
10. Eli Vastbinder, 81.5-0-0-81.50-10 Points.
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0-0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Kasel, 0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Dougherty, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Jesse Petri, 0-0-0-0.00
João Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0.00
Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00
Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0-0.00
Cole Melancon, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Manoelito de Souza Junior, 0-0-0-0.00
Thiago Salgado, 0-0-0-0.00
Adriano Salgado, 0-0-0-0.00
Lucas Divino, 0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0.00
Carlos Garcia, 0-0-0-0.00
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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