BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
No event in rodeo has more money at the top this season than bull riding. Top-ranked Ky Hamilton’s $133,000+ are the most of any cowboy in a single event.
Bull riding is also the only event with three cowboys clearing $100,000 already, in fact, the other eight disciplines have combined to produce four six-figure earners total.
With so much money being made among the Top 5 bull riders, it has caused a gulf between those ranked at the top and those fighting for an NFR berth as No. 1 and No. 20 are separated by about $90,000.
1. Ky Hamilton - $133,445
Hamilton leads all PRCA bull riders with four Playoff Series wins - La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros, RodeoHouston, Redding Rodeo (California) and Sisters Rodeo (Oregon). The three-time NFR qualifier is riding 53 percent of his bulls for an Average Score of 85.75 points. Hamilton has already matched or exceeded last year’s totals in 85+ Point Rides and Go-Round Wins.
2. Stetson Wright - $124,206
The reigning World Champion may not be No. 1, but leads the PRCA in pretty much every statistical category including 90+ Point Rides, Riding Percentage and Average Score. Wright’s biggest wins this season have come at the Clovis Rodeo (California), Cactus Jack Xtreme Bulls (Texas) and the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo (California).
3. Josh Frost - $109,692
With an Average Score of almost 85 points, Frost is looking to make it three consecutive years of averaging at least 84 points. Frost dominated the Texas Swing this season, bringing in at least $5,000 from all five stops including $20,000+ for a win in Fort Worth and second place finish in Houston. Frost has also banked more than $5,000 at the Bullnanza (Oklahoma), Clovis Rodeo and Reno Rodeo Xtreme Bulls.
4. Jestyn Woodward - $97,217
In just the last week, Woodward has added almost $20,000 to his season earnings thanks to a win at the Reno Rodeo Xtreme Bulls and a second place finish at the Crystal Springs Xtreme Bulls. Woodward ranks second in the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Standings behind Sage Kimzey and has opened up a lead of more than $30,000 in the Resistol Rookie Race.
5. Jeff Askey - $94,659
The five-time NFR qualifier keeps getting better with age as he is hoping for his fourth Top 7 finish in the last six years after none the first six years of his career. Askey has been victorious at the Texas Circuit Finals, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, San Angelo Cinch Chute Out and Woodlawn Arena Xtreme Bulls (Texas). Askey’s Average Score of 85.74 is three points higher than any other year of his career and ranks third in the PRCA.
6. Trey Holston - $79,455
Holston has won four rodeos this season but has not found a first place paycheck since April 1. Holston appears to be finding his rhythm again after winning close to $9,000 at the Reno Xtreme Bulls on June 15. Holston is one of five PRCA bull riders who has covered at least 50 percent of his bulls this season.
7. Sage Kimzey - $78,851
Despite fewer outs this season than anyone in the Top 20, the seven-time World Champion still ranks comfortably in the Top 10. Kimzey leads the Xtreme Bulls Standings with $() and in his last 10 events dating back to April 27, he has made more than $30,000, a good chunk of that coming from finishing second at the Reno Xtreme Bulls. Kimzey was also the champion of the George Paul Memorial (Texas) and San Angelo Xtreme Bulls.
8. Cullen Telfer - $66,289
The 24-year-old is heating up as he is 7-of-13 with all seven of those qualified rides paying at least $1,000 since May 18. That stretch includes wins at the Sisters Xtreme Bulls and Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo (Oregon) as well as second place finishes at both Old Fort Days (Arkansas) and the Crossett Riding Club Rodeo (Arkansas).
9. T Parker - $63,240
Parker has won five times this season including three wins - Grand Island Xtreme Bulls (Nebraska), Lawton Xtreme Bulls (Oklahoma) and the Dixie National (Mississippi) that won him more than $4,000.
10. Trevor Reiste - $62,235
Reiste also has five wins this season, but none bigger than his most recent at the Parker County Sheriffs Posse Frontier Days Xtreme Bulls (Texas) which paid him north of $13,000 as he was the only cowboy to make the whistle. Reiste is looking for a second NFR appearance to go with his one trip from 2017.
11. Ernie Courson - $60,164
The Florida native came out hot winning four rodeos in his home state and five overall by Feb. 26. Since April 14, however, Courson has won just three checks worth more than $1,000.
12. Tristen Hutchings - $59,498
Since May, Hutchings has moved up six spots thanks to pulling paydays of more than $2,500 from four different events. The 2022 NFR qualifier has three professional wins in June, including one that just came on June 21 via a 90-point ride at the Crystal Springs Xtreme Bulls (South Dakota). Hutchings also captured his second College National Championship in June.
13. Creek Young - $56,502
Young has moved up three spots in June and on June 22, he was third at the Greeley Xtreme Bulls (Colorado). He has placed in nine rodeos already in June. Young also won a big check on the Texas Swing, $19,750 at RodeoHouston, for finishing third.
14. Cody Teel - $56,339
The five-time NFR qualifier has made his intentions known that he plans on going for his first NFR since 2016. After winning about $2,000 in May, Teel has already brought in more than $10,000 in June thanks to his win in Parker County and fifth place finish at the Reno Xtreme Bulls. Teel ranks ninth in the PRCA in Average Score this season at 84.50.
15. JC Mortensen - $50,328
The 22-year-old has gone from No. 20 to No. 15 already in June thanks to four paydays worth $1,400 or more on all four of his qualified rides marked 80 or better this month. Mortensen brought in more than $5,000 for a first place finish at the Marvelous Xtreme Bull Madness (Utah) in March and a second place finish at the Red Bluff Round-Up (California) in April.
16. Trey Benton - $48,546
The seven-time NFR qualifier performed well on the Texas Swing, banking at least $8,000 in San Antonio, Houston and San Angelo. His biggest payday in May and June so far is $2,541 for winning the Coleman PRCA Rodeo (Texas). Benton’s Average Score of 85.68 is Top 5 in the PRCA.
17. TJ Gray - $45,020
Gray has not competed since May 17, but before he rode 4-of-6 bulls. Gray’s two biggest wins this year were a pair of Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeos - Raleigh and Columbus - that combined to pay him more than $10,000.
18. Koby Radley - $44,888
After a hot start to the year, the injury bug bit Radley again. This time, it was his left leg that gave him trouble. Prior to going out on May 6, Radley had PRCA Playoff Series wins in Montgomery, Alabama and Arcadia, Florida in addition to the Fort Worth Xtreme Bulls.
19. Chance Schott - $44,226
Schott has three wins this season, all coming in North or South Dakota. He has not made a qualified ride since late March, but when he does make whistle, he averages close to 85 points.
20. Coy Thorson - $43,572
Thorson has two wins this season, but has not competed since April 22.
Standings are via ProRodeo.com and are accurate as of 9 AM ET on Friday, June 23.
