Team Ropers Begay/Brown Power to Lead at NFR Open Powered by RAM
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Veteran PRCA team roping header Derrick Begay is one of the best at his craft.
Begay, who has qualified for nine Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, proved his versatility on Friday night at the NFR Open powered by RAM.
With less than three runs with heeler TJ Brown, Begay powered the duo to a 13.4-second time on two head to take the lead in the average before a sellout crowd of 6,400 spectators at the Norris Penrose Event Center.
“I have hardly roped with TJ at all,” Begay said. “He’s only as good as I am because I have to nod my head and turn the steer. When you rope with different guys, they all rope good, but if I can’t do my job, he can’t do his. I have to try as hard as I can to give everybody I rope with a chance. I just worry about doing my part and try my hardest to give them a chance.”
Brown is thrilled to be paired up with Begay. The pair is representing the Turquoise Circuit.
“I have such a good header heading for me I just need to catch two feet and do my job,” Brown said. “I don’t need to do anything stupid, just catch them.”
Begay and Brown stopped the clock in 5.6 seconds on Friday to come in at 13.4 seconds in the average.
The inaugural NFR Open powered by RAM, is one of the biggest rodeos of the 2022 PRORODEO season with $1 million in payouts to contestants, livestock and other PRCA members.
The NFR Open powered by RAM, formerly titled the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, is the most prestigious rodeo under the PRCA circuit system and features two contestants in each event from each of the 12 U.S. circuits, plus Canada, bringing more than 200 contestants to the Norris Penrose Event Center for five competition rounds.
The event continues at 12:15 p.m. (MT) Saturday and will culminate with the top eight contestants advancing to the semifinal round at 6:45 p.m. The top four contestants in the semis move on to a sudden-death finals, where the national circuit champions will be crowned.
“The mindset for (Saturday) is one steer at a time,” said Begay, who arrived in Colorado Springs 24th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $33,538. “We caught two and the rest of the team ropers will finish (in the afternoon performance) and hopefully we will make the top eight and just rope the steer we get. Nod your head and try and get a good start and from there muscle memory and reaction take over.
“This is a great rodeo for us that pays very well. The money they pay here is way up there and it is on everybody’s list to get here.”
Despite all Begay’s career accomplishments, he’s never won a circuit national championship.
“I have been rodeoing for a while and I have never won this event and I would love to put this on my resume,” said Begay, who joined the PRCA in 2004.
Brown is enjoying the ride.
“This is awesome roping with Derrick,” Brown said. “I could not ask for a better partner for this thing. I turn 40 (Saturday) and it would be a great birthday present to win this event.”
Other leaders after three performances are bareback rider Kaycee Feild (172.5 points on two head); steer wrestler Cade Staton (10.6 seconds on two head); saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno (169.5 points on two head); tie-down roper Macon Murphy (17.9 seconds on two head); breakaway roper Kirbie Gibbens (5.4 seconds on two head); barrel racer Jordon Briggs (34.63 seconds on two runs) and bull rider Braidy William Randolph (155.5 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA