Jacob Lees made big moves in the 2023 regular season to cinch his first ever National Finals Rodeo qualification. It was a fight all the way to the finish, but he got it done to be the No. 14 cowboy with $117,808.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup (South Dakota) $19,000
Lees is a good example of exactly what the Governor’s Cup was billed as - a make or break rodeo. With his season on the line the final weekend of the regular season, he earned enough to go from No. 17 to No. 14 in the world thanks to second place finish in Round 1 and a win in Round 2.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $13,500
Lees’ trip to San Antone started with an 84.5 and a Round 1 win. He cinched the Go-Round in Round 3 as well before finishing second in the Semifinals to go on. He drew Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler in the Finals, where he was 89 points to finish third. That tied for his highest score of the season.
Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo, $6,613
Lees’ first payday of more than $2,000 of the 2023 regular season came in December of 2022. An 85-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ Kay’s Atomic Bomb landed him No. 2 behind Cole Franks.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Darby Xtreme Barebacks (Montana), 89 Points
In the Third Section of the Darby, Montana event, Lees would end up going head-to-head with another Pickett Pro Rodeo bronc to put another 89 on the board. His ride beat out Kaycee Feild, Rocker Steiner and Mason Clements. He was also 89 in the Short Round, but there were five rides of 90+ in the round.
Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo (Ohio), 88 Points
Lees won the First Round with 87 points and added another $1,000 for 88 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Tarnished Silver in the Bonus Round.
NOTABLE WINS
Basin City Freedom Rodeo (Washington), 83.5 Points
It might not have been one of Lees’ highest marked rides of the season, but it still got him a crucial win. His 83.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Ted would tie him for the title and add over $4,400 to his season earnings. He also won $3,700 at the St. Paul Rodeo over the Fourth of July.
Cache County Fair and Rodeo (Utah), 86.5 Points
At the PRCA Playoff Series Rodeo in Logan, Lees rode War Widow for 86.5 points to get the win. Between Aug. 6 and Aug. 12, Lees won $9,449 thanks to checks at five different rodeos.
Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo (California), 85 Points
During the second-to-last weekend of the regular season, Lees stayed alive by winning more than $5,000 for an 85-point ride in San Bernardino.
Meet the NFR Athletes is presented by Montana Silversmiths #EveryBuckleHasAStory #BrandOfChampions #FromGreatToGold
