BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
It was as close as it could possibly get in the tie-down roping as Shad Mayfield, who entered the Wrangler NFR with a lead of about $90,000, held off Marty Yates by less than $200 to win his first Gold Buckle.
“It means the world to me,” Mayfield said. “It’s something I wanted growing up, it’s been a dream of mine. I had a great year coming in, the best year I could ever imagine having. I had a rough Finals, I really didn’t rope like I should have, but God had big plans, he put me here for a reason, and I think just having a good season paid off.
Mayfield logged a no time in the tenth round after his calf didn’t stay tied for more than six seconds.
Hanchey finished fifth in Round 10 with a time of 8 seconds flat and Yates was sixth in Round 10 with an 8.10.
Mayfield got some help from Hunter Herrin, who stopped the clock at 7.5 seconds as the second-to-last cowboy out to knock both Yates and Hanchey down a spot in Round 10, allowing Mayfield to hang on.
“I don’t think I roped to my full capability, and I knew it could go either way,” Mayfield. “I just kept my head up, knew what the other guys had to beat and paid attention to that and knew I needed to make my best run (in Round 10). I really didn’t think I’d won the world walking out of there but then they told me, and it’s a great feeling.”
Mayfield won $199,398 for the season and about $42,000 at the 2020 NFR. Mayfield also won RFD-TV’s The American and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
Yates finished with $198,168 and Hanchey was third in the world with $195,991.
Hanchey and Yates were first and second in the average respectively. Hanchey tied 10 calfs in 83.10 seconds and Yates was 90.40 on 10 head.
Mayfield finished 15th in the average.
SHAD MAYFIELD’S 7.5-SECOND ROUND ONE RUN
