Kolbaba Wins Third Round of 2021 with Round 1 Victory in Sioux Falls

By: Mandi McCary

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – On Friday night in Sioux Falls, Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) earned his third round victory of the 2021 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast (UTB) season by topping the Round 1 leaderboard when the action came to a close at the PBR Unleash The Beast, First PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational.

Fans inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center roared as the 24-year old from Washington rocketed out of the chutes aboard Party Animal (Stockyards/ Pritchett Ranch/ Melton Bull). Kolbaba’s steadfast demeanor in the chutes before his ride matched his steady performance aboard the fast-bucking bovine.

With a ride-score of 89.5, Kolbaba clinched the Round 1 win to earn 28 world points.

Starting the night at No. 13 in the world standings, he now moves to No. 10.

 
Reigning PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) delivered an electrifying 88.25-point ride aboard Peep Show (Cornwell Bucking Bulls) late in the round to take second place and earn 18 world points. Leme held the No. 3 position in the world standings. He currently sits 242 points behind world leader and 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil).

Pacheco’s night wasn’t as successful as his fellow countryman’s, as he hit the dirt after just 3.82 seconds aboard Wooden Nickles (Bierema, Rodeo Inc.).

Third place was split across four determined cowboys sharing matching 88-point ride scores and 15.5 world points for their efforts.

Fan-favorite and veteran rider Cody Nance (Paris, Tennessee) was the first to lock in the third-place finish after making the 8 aboard Ground Assault (Stockyards/444/Winston/ Melton Bull). Nance, who began the night at No. 31 in the world standings, moved up to No. 28.

Brazilian rider Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) followed in Nance’s footsteps in locking his spot on the leaderboard after conquering Monkey (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls). He holds tight to the No. 18 spot in the world standings.

Young gun Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado) was all smiles as he walked off the dirt after his out on Vertigo Spy (Vold/Hart Cattle Co). Beginning the weekend at No. 14 in the world standings, Fritzlan will remain there heading into Saturday’s Round 2.

Brazilian rider Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) rounded out the tie for third at the end of the evening after making the 8 on Lil 2 Train (Jane Clark/Gene Owen). Barbosa, who began the night at No. 12 in the world standings, will head into Round 2 on Saturday looking to crack the Top 10.

 
South Dakota resident Matt Triplett (Canton, South Dakota) didn’t fare well in the state he now calls home. The former Montana man was thrown to the dirt in just 1.7 seconds by The Undertaker (Cornwell Bucking Bulls/ Riley Bucking Bulls). He is questionable for Round 2 after sustaining a right groin strain during his ride attempt.

The PBR Unleash The Beast First PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational will continue with Round 2 on Saturday, April 10 at 6:45 p.m. CST, followed by Round 3 and the championship round on Sunday, April 11 at 1:45 p.m. CST.

Fans can relive all the action from Round 1 in South Dakota starting on Saturday, April 10 at 8 a.m. EST on RidePass.com or via the RidePass mobile app.

PBR Unleash The Beast – PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center -Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Derek Kolbaba, 89.5-0-0-0-89.50-28 Points.
2. Jose Vitor Leme, 88.25-0-0-0-88.25-18 Points.
3. Dener Barbosa, 88-0-0-0-88.00-15.5 Points.
(tie). Colten Fritzlan, 88-0-0-0-88.00-15.5 Points.
(tie). Marco Eguchi, 88-0-0-0-88.00-15.5 Points.
(tie). Cody Nance, 88-0-0-0-88.00-15.5 Points.
7. Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 87.75-0-0-0-87.75-13 Points.
8. Silvano Alves, 86.25-0-0-0-86.25-12 Points.
9. Andrew Alvidrez, 86-0-0-0-86.00-11 Points.
10. Eduardo Aparecido, 85.5-0-0-0-85.50-9.5 Points.
(tie). Chase Dougherty, 85.5-0-0-0-85.50-9.5 Points.
12. João Ricardo Vieira, 85-0-0-0-85.00-8 Points.
13. Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 84-0-0-0-84.00-8 Points.
14. Junior Patrik Souza, 78.25-0-0-0-78.25
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cole Melancon, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Boudreaux Campbell, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Cerqueira, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jess Lockwood, 0-0-0-0-0.00
João Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0-0.00
J.T. Moore, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Jones, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Eli Vastbinder, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Rodrigo Melgar, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Shane Proctor, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Thiago Salgado, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Louis, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Chase Outlaw, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0-0.00

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