Road to Vegas: Halverson Inches Closer to First World Finals Berth
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Conner Halverson knows there is still a lot he needs to accomplish between now and Nov. 3 before he can let out a sigh of relief. Still, his career-best fifth-place finish at the PBR Monster Energy Invitational in Manchester, New Hampshire, this weekend has him potentially one step closer to his first PBR World Finals berth.
The 20-year-old tied a career-high by riding Skeeter Peeter for 88 points in Round 2 on Saturday night, and his 1-for-3 showing netted him 35 world points.
Halverson inched up two spots in the world standings and will head into next weekend’s regular-season UTB finale in Lincoln, Nebraska, sitting No. 33 in the world.
The Gordon, Nebraska, native also has the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals already made, which may prove to be a difference-maker in the race to qualify for the World Finals. The Velocity Tour Finals on Oct. 30-31 at South Point Arena & Equestrian Center is the last official event on the PBR schedule before the World Finals qualifiers are set. The Top 35 healthy/active riders in the world standings qualify for the World Finals.
Halverson is 53 points ahead of No. 38 Adriano Salgado in the world standings.
No. 33 Conner Halverson (224 world points)
No. 34 Manoelito de Souza Jr. (223)
No. 35 Cody Nance (198.16)
No. 36 Taylor Toves (187)
No. 37 Thiago Salgado (184)
No. 38 Adriano Salgado (171)
No. 39 Lucas Divino (166)
“I can’t really think about it too much or push yourself too hard, or else you will end up on a buckoff streak like I have the last couple of weeks,” Halverson told CBS Sports Network’s Kate Harrison. “I just have been focusing on staying on every bull because that is what is going to get me to the Finals. One bull at a time.”
Ezekiel Mitchell also helped his push for a third consecutive PBR World Finals with an 87-point ride on Buffalo Scott in Round 2. The No. 31-ranked bull rider finished 1-for-3 with his second straight seventh-place finish.
“I am kind of beat up right now, so we are dealing with that, but as long as I keep showing up and having this fight and intensity, I feel like I will be just fine,” Mitchell told Harrison. “My tailbone and my elbow are pretty messed up right now, but that will be all good for the Finals.”
Professional Bull Riders – PBR MONSTER ENERGY INVITATIONAL
Manchester, NH, 2021 – Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Jesse Petri, 89-0-87.5-176.50-126 Points.
2. Kaique Pacheco, 91-84.5-0-175.50-91.5 Points.
3. Eli Vastbinder, 86.5-0-87.25-173.75-71 Points.
4. Derek Kolbaba, 0-88.5-0-88.50-49 Points.
5. Conner Halverson, 0-88-0-88.00-35 Points.
6. Junior Patrik Souza, 0-87.25-0-87.25-29 Points.
7. Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-87-0-87.00-22 Points.
8. Marcus Mast, 86.25-0-0-86.25-21 Points.
9. Eduardo Aparecido, 0-86-0-86.00-19 Points.
10. Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-85-0-85.00-16 Points.
11. Marcos Gloria, 0-84.5-0-84.50-13.5 Points.
12. Andrew Alvidrez, 83.75-0-0-83.75-15 Points.
13. Grayson Cole, 83.5-0-0-83.50-14 Points.
14. João Ricardo Vieira, 0-82.75-0-82.75-11 Points.
15. Cody Teel, 0-82.5-0-82.50-10 Points.
16. D.J. Parker, 80.75-0-0-80.75-13 Points.
17. Marco Eguchi, 76-0-0-76.00-4 Points.
Boudreaux Campbell, 0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Dougherty, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
João Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0.00
Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 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
Fernando Henrique Novais, 0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Louis, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Casper, 0-0-0-0.00
Carlos Garcia, 0-0-0-0.00
Joe Hostetler, 0-0-0-0.00
Thor Hoefer II, 0-0-0-0.00
Jory Markiss, 0-0-0-0.00
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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