BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Round 4 of the NFR featured a terrific tie-down roping, but the most drama Monday night came down to the very last out of the rodeo - Ky Hamilton in the bull riding.
With Sage Kimzey already in with 88 points as the only cowboy to make the whistle, Hamilton was not only riding to line his own pockets, he was riding to make a sure a seven-time World Champion didn’t pick up a $99,000 check because of ground money.
Hamilton didn’t just ride, he was 89 points on Fred of Bridwell Pro Rodeo to make it four in a row to kick off the NFR and clear $400,000 in season earnings.
The next closest bull rider to Hamilton is Josh Frost at just over $266,000.
As for that tie-down roping round, Shad Mayfield won it at 6.9 seconds, Riley Webb was second at 7.1, and it took a 7.6 to even get a check.
“You can’t let a bobble stop you right there, I’ve always been taught keep hustling,” Mayfield said. “I knew I had that calf down to be pretty fast.”
Mayfield is third in both the PRCA World Standings and the Projected World Standings.
Other round winners Monday night were Leighton Berry in bareback riding (87.5 points), Bridger Anderson in steer wrestling (3.5 seconds), Clint Summers/Jake Long in team roping (3.7 seconds), Damian Brennan in saddle bronc riding (89 points), and Sissy Winn in barrel racing (13.50 seconds).
BAREBACK RIDING
Round 4: 1. Leighton Berry, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo ‘s Painted Smoke, $30,706; 2. (tie) Mason Clements, Keenan Hayes and Jayco Roper, 85.5, $18,490 each; 5. Kade Sonnier, 85, $7,924; 6. Dean Thompson, 83.5, $4,953.
STEER WRESTLING
Round 4: 1. Bridger Anderson, 3.5 seconds, $30,706; 2. J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $24,268; 3. Dirk Tavenner, 4.1, $18,325; 4. Don Payne, 4.3, $12,877; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Dalton Massey and Jacob Talley, 4.6, $4,292 each.
TEAM ROPING
Round 4: 1. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 3.7 seconds, $30,706 each; 2. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 3.9, $24,268; 3. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.0, $18,325; 4. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.3, $12,877; 5. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.8, $7,924; 6. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.4, $4,953.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Round 4: 1. Damian Brennan, 89 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos ‘s Cancun Moon, $30,706; 2. Tanner Butner, 88, $24,268; 3. Brody Cress, 86.5, $18,325; 4. (tie) Sage Newman and Zeke Thurston, 86, $10,401 each; 6. Chase Brooks, 84.5, $4,953.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Round 4: 1. Shad Mayfield, 6.9 seconds, $30,706; 2. Riley Mason Webb, 7.1, $24,268; 3. Tuf Case Cooper, 7.2, $18,325; 4. Haven Meged, 7.4, $12,877; 5. Shane Hanchey, 7.5, $7,924; 6. Westyn Hughes, 7.6, $4,953.
BARREL RACING
Round 4: 1. Sissy Winn, 13.50 seconds, $30,706; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.52, $24,268; 3. Jordon Briggs, 13.53, $18,325; 4. Emily Beisel, 13.64, $12,877; 5. Jessica Routier, 13.76, $7,924; 6. Lisa Lockhart, 13.77, $4,953.
BULL RIDING
Round 4: 1. Ky Hamilton, 89 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos ‘s Fred, $52,746; 2. Sage Kimzey, 88, $46,307.
