RAPID CITY, S.D. – Last night was the third performance of the Gold Buckle Beer Pro Tour Finale in Rapid City. This is the largest rodeo ever to come to South Dakota with more than $40,000 added in each event. It is the end of the season and this money is crucial for those bubbling right around the magic top 15 who will go to the National Finals Rodeo in December. Sometimes as little as $500 is separating who is in and who is out, so the importance of a big payday like this is hard to overestimate. For those more safely ensconced toward the top, the finale offers an opportunity to pad their lead going into Arlington.
It was a new group of cowboys in town last night and the same athletes will compete tonight. It is the aggregate of two that determines the final standings between the Tuesday/Wednesday group and these latter week performances. One possible exception seems to be the bull riding, where the stock has thus far prevented anyone from riding two and only nine qualified rides in total. To ride two is to automatically punch your ticket to the Saturday finals. Last night Parker Breding won the perf with an 86, landing him in 2nd for the first round. Jeff Askey was 80.5, Ty Wallace 78, and Josh Frost the only other qualified ride at 76. This second set of bull riders each get another shot tonight to make the top eight in a best-on-two competition.
A couple big scores in the Bareback competition last night. Orin Larsen was 90.5 and Cole Reiner 89.5 placing them first and second, respectively, not only for the night but for the overall first round. Elsewhere Tim O’connell was 86.5, Leighton Berry 86 and Jesse Pope 85.5. Realistically, however, a solid ten of the bareback guys from last night still have a shot to make the top eight if they can grab a big score tonight. Over in the Saddle Bronc, Logan Hay was the leader of the performance with an 86, then Ben Andersen and Logan Cook were both 84.5 and Ryder and Stestson Wright were each judged an 82.
Tie Down Roping last night saw Cory Solomon time-in at 8.6 for the best of the perf, but still only good enough for 6th in the first round. Caleb Smidt was 8.6, Caddo Lewallen 8.9 and Haven Meged 9.2. It will be tight at the top for best-on-two with four guys from the Tuesday/Wednesday crowd clocking under 18 on two and Westyn Hughes with an impressive 16.1 on 2. Of course, all these guys need to do tonight is land themselves in the top 8 for the week and then work with a clean slate on Saturday night. The Steer Wrestling was impressive yesterday as Tanner Brunner, Stetson Jorgensen and Dakota Eldridge were all 3.9, creating a whopping 6-way tie for second in the round. Rowdy Parrott was 3.5 on Tuesday night to win the round. It sure looks like it will take a time under 9 on two to make the top 8 for Saturday.
In the Team Roping Thursday Riley and Brady Minor won the night, the round and were the best time of the rodeo so far with a 4.3. Nick Satain and Joseph Harrison were 4.8, it was a 5.1 for Clay Smith and Jade Corkhill. Jeff Flanniken and Tyler Worley rounded out the top four from last night with a 5.6. Almost anyone successful on two will have a good shot at punching their ticket to Saturday as only four teams were good on two from Tuesday/Wednesday. The ladies were super fast on the barrels – the top 5, in fact, among the fastest of the rodeo so far. Dona Kay Rule won the round and posted the best time so far with a 15.94. In fact, the top 6 last night were better than anyone from the Tuesday night first round. Michelle Alley was 16.00, Hailey Kinsell 16.03, then Nellie Miller and Megan Champion were 16.06 and Cindy Smith was 16.14. It sets up an interesting night tonight, where fully 9 of the 12 are in a great position to make the final 8 and even the top 6 in the average from Tuesday/Wednesday can’t be feeling that safe as they watch what happens here Friday.
So tonight would be a good night to be at the James Kjerstad event center on the Central States Fairgrounds for the 4th performance of the Gold Buckle Beer Pro Tour Finale. Tonight is the night where the top 8 of the week will be decided in each round. After the rodeo the great Dirty Word, with John Scalia will perform a free concert for all the ticket holders. Then tomorrow night the drama will be high as the top 8 compete in a long go and then the final 4 battle for the big money. South Dakota country music royalty will be here when Dustin Evans takes over the after-party to wrap up the week.
