Souza Wins Season-Opening Touring Pro Division Event in Arizona
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Manoelito de Souza Jr. is the first rider to hit paydirt on American soil for the 2022 season. The 26-year-old went a perfect 4-for-4 to win the Navajo Nations Queen Creek PBR, as well as place third overall, this weekend in Queen Creek, Arizona.
Souza was flawless at the first Touring Pro Division event of the new season as he rode four consecutive bulls for the first time in his brief American career. Souza, who double-entered the event, began the competition at the Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Center with 83.5 points on Black Magic in Round 1 on Friday night and followed that up with 85.5 points on Hammer Lane. On Saturday, Souza stayed perfect with 83 points on Heat Seeker in Round 2 before covering Big Whiskey for an event-best 88.5 points.
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“Nothing better than starting the year off on the right foot,” Souza wrote on Instagram. “A perfect weekend for me! I am very grateful to God for the achievements and accomplishments he has given me. I just want to keep focused on the work in search of making a better season in 2022.”
Souza’s first TPD victory and second win overall in the United States since first competing in the U.S. in 2019 contributed to him leaving Arizona with 22 world points. Souza is ranked No. 7 overall in the extremely early world standings.
Souza is coming off his first PBR World Finals, where he went 2-for-5 to conclude 2021 No. 34 in the world standings. Souza made his premier series debut on May 14 in Billings and went 8-for-25 in 11 events.
The 26-year-old will begin 2022 on the Unleash The Beast when the premier series begins its season on New Year’s Day in Indianapolis.
Lucas Divino went 2-for-2 (169.5 points) for a second-place finish and eight world points. Divino rode Good Time Sancho (84.5 points) and Randy Boone (85 points) to rise to No. 18 in the world standings. Divino finished 2021 No. 41 in the world standings, so he will be looking to get into Indianapolis as an alternate, and his Queen Creek performance could help.
Meanwhile, Dakota Eagleburger (2-for-2, 168 points) and Aaron Williams (2-for-2, 168 points) rounded out the Top 5 by tying for fourth place.
Kyler Oliver, competing for the first time since undergoing reconstructive left shoulder surgery, won Round 1 on Friday night with an 87-point ride on Shadow Hound to propel himself to a ninth-place finish overall.
Mauricio Moreira was victorious in Round 1 on Saturday with an 88-point ride on Bougie Native. Moreira placed eighth overall in the event.
The next event on the TPD calendar is the WCRA Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo on Dec. 15 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Professional Bull Riders – Navajo Nations Queen Creek PBR
Queen Creek, AZ, 2022 – Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Manoelito de Souza Junior [2], 0-0-83-88.5-171.50-15 Points.
2. Lucas Divino [2], 0-0-84.5-85-169.50-8 Points.
3. Manoelito de Souza Junior [1], 0-0-83.5-85.5-169.00-7 Points.
4. Dakota Eagleburger [1], 0-0-84-84-168.00-3.5 Points.
(tie). Aaron Williams [1], 0-0-83.5-84.5-168.00-3.5 Points.
6. D.J. Parker [2], 0-0-81.5-84-165.50-2 Points.
7. Dakota Louis, 0-0-79-84-163.00-1 Points.
8. Mauricio Gulla Moreira [2], 0-0-88-0-88.00
9. Kyler Oliver, 0-0-87-0-87.00
10. Scottie Knapp [3], 0-0-86.5-0-86.50
11. River Stephenson, 0-0-85-0-85.00
(tie). Scottie Knapp [1], 0-0-85-0-85.00
13. Dakota Eagleburger [2], 0-0-0-84.5-84.50
(tie). Quentin Vaught [2], 0-0-84.5-0-84.50
15. Dawson Branton [2], 0-0-84-0-84.00
(tie). Wyatt Austin [1], 0-0-84-0-84.00
17. Dalton Rudman [2], 0-0-83-0-83.00
18. Jared Long [1], 0-0-82.5-0-82.50
19. Jacauy Hale [1], 0-0-80-0-80.00
20. Lucas Divino [1], 0-0-78.5-0-78.50
Aaron Williams [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
D.J. Parker [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Rudman [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Clayton Sellars [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Clayton Sellars [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Quentin Vaught [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Ednei Caminhas [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Ednei Caminhas [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dawson Branton [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Hunter Kelly [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Hunter Kelly [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Wright, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Justin Houston [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Justin Houston [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Bub Steele [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Bub Steele [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Andy Guzman [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Andy Guzman [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Eli Necochea [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Eli Necochea [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Santana [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Santana [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jared Long [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Scottie Knapp [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Colt Robinson [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Colt Robinson [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jesse Flores [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jesse Flores [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Austin [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Isaiah Ortiz [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Isaiah Ortiz [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Nez, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dugan Black, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Charles Benson [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Charles Benson [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Shepard, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Chason Brookshire [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Chason Brookshire [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Edgardo Figueroa, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Elijah Monnett [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Elijah Monnett [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Tyler McVay, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jake Maher [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jake Maher [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Robbie Taylor Jr. [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Robbie Taylor Jr. [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jacauy Hale [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Oren Williams [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Oren Williams [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Erick Minjarez, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luis Tinoco [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luis Tinoco [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Maines [1], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Maines [2], 0-0-0-0-0.00
Craig Joe, 0-0-0-0-0.00
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