The final PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Standings are full of cowboys who have won a Gold Buckle and they are all toward the top.
Shane Hanchey ($175,079) enters No. 1 in the world by a pretty healthy margin over No. 2 Westyn Hughes ($133,336) and the 12-time NFR qualifier is in search of his second World Title and third NFR Average Title.
Behind Hanchey and Hughes, who is the only cowboy in the Top 6 without a Gold Buckle is reigning World Champion Shad Mayfield ($131,916). Mayfield won about $35,000 over the last two months of the season.
No. 4 is two-time World Champion Caleb Smidt ($126,879), who is back in Vegas after missing last year’s NFR due to a positive COVID-19 test.
In fifth in the PRCA World Standings is Tuf Cooper ($120,474). The 12-time NFR qualifier and four-time World Champion spent much of the season battling with his long-time friend Hanchey for the No. 1 spot, but a hand injury kept him out for the last month of year.
And rounding out the World Champions in the Top 6 is Marcos Costa ($117,082), making his first appearance since 2017. The Brazilian was No. 8 entering the ProRodeo Tour Finale, but won the Shootout and more than $15,000 total at the event. Costa won the World Championship in 2017.
There is one more World Champion in the field, 2019 winner Haven Meged ($98,925) enters the NFR No. 11.
There was also unexpected drama for the final two spots in the tie-down roping.
No. 14 Taylor Santos ($89,038) rallied in the season’s final two weeks to overcome a $10,000 gap between himself and the Top 15 and make the NFR. John Douch ($88,874), a mentee of Joe Beaver, hung onto the last spot and edged out Andrew Burks by less than $1,000 to make his first NFR.
ALL PRCA WORLD STANDINGS TOTAL ARE CURRENTLY IN AUDIT AFTER THE SEASON ENDED SEPT. 30, THESE STANDINGS ARE UNOFFICIAL.
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