Durfey wins round in tie-down roping
LAS VEGAS – Colbert’s Tyson Durfey came up with his first victory in a National Finals Rodeo with a tie-down roping win in the second round Friday night.
Durfey, who has won a pair of Canadian Finals Rodeo championships, stopped the clock in 7.2 seconds to win and earn $16,767. The 25-year-old finished one-tenth of a second ahead of former world record-holder Jeff Chapman.
Durfey, who finished second in Round 1, has already won $30,018 at this year’s Wrangler NFR to move to fourth place in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings at $102,188.95.
Durfey topped the average at 19.40 for two rounds. Josh Peek of Pueblo, Colo., topped the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association seasons standings with $153,771 while Hunter Herrin of Apache, Okla., remained second with $134,390.
In bareback riding, Ryan Gray of Cheney finished third in the second round, winning $8,518.63. He moved up to fifth in the world standings. World leader Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb., remained in first place by tying for third with a score of 85.5 on Jim Boy. Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., won with an 89 on Dusty Dan to move from third to second place in the standings.
In bull riding, Zach Oakes of Elk was fifth with a score of 80.5 and won $4,326.92. He’s 10th in the world standings. Steve Woolsey of Payson, Utah, placed first with a score of 87 on Silencer. Standings leader Chance Smart of Philadelphia, Miss., remained in first with $164,908, while J.W. Harris of May, Texas, second with an 86.5 on Dippin Dots, advanced from fourth to second with $136,952.
Team ropers Garrett Tonozzi and Kinney Harrell won their second straight round.
Tonozzi, from Fruita, Colo., and Harrell, from San Angelo, Texas, had a 3.9-second run. They had a 4.6 Thursday night, and have earned $33,533 for two rounds.
Tonozzi and Harrell entered the NFR as the 15th and final qualifiers for their event. Because of their qualifying spot, they were the first team out in the first round. But winning that round put them in the second-to-last spot in the second round.
In barrel racing, Cassie Moseley of Farwell, Texas, who was second in the first round, won the second round in 13.85. Jill Moody of Letcher, S.D., who won the first round, was second in 14.21. Standings leader Lindsay Sears of Canada failed to place among the top six for the second straight round.
In steer wrestling, Gabe Ledoux of Kaplan, La., won in 3.5 seconds, while world leader Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., placed sixth in 4.7.
In saddle bronc riding, Billy Etbauer of Edmond, Okla., remained in first in the PRCA standings by finishing fourth with an 85.5 on Black Knight. Etbauer has earned $160,655.
Dusty Hausauer of Dickinson, N.D., won the round with an 88.5 on Elvis.
In all-around, Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, has more than a $113,000 lead over second-place Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb.