It has been a difficult 2020 NFR for Tie-Down Roper Tuf Cooper.
He had placed in just two of the first eight rounds at the NFR, placing fourth in the fourth round and second in the seventh round. He turned around momentum on Friday by winning Round Nine with a 6.9-second run.
“I won the ninth go-round when I was 18 years old, my first round win, so it’s cool to come back and win the ninth round this year,” said Cooper, who won tie-down roping titles in 2011-12 and 2014 and the all-around in 2017. “I’m very grateful we’re having the NFR here in Texas. It’s been a rough go these first eight rounds, but here we are, I got the round win and there is another round ahead of us. We’re just grateful for the opportunity, everybody coming out, supporting the NFR in Texas and having it live, it’s really awesome for everybody.”
Looking at the Gold Buckle race in tie-down roping, Shad Mayfield has seen his massive lead shrink to an uncomfortable margin.
Mayfield is $30,000 ahead of Hunter Herrin in second place, but that is not who he needs to worry about catching him. Because Mayfield can’t win the average, which comes with $67,000 he needs to be concerned with Marty Yates, Shane Hanchey, and Cory Solomon.
If Mayfield fails to cash a check and either of those cowboys win the round and the average, Mayfield will lose his lead and the Gold Buckle.
NFR TIE-DOWN ROPING RESULTS
First Round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.1 seconds, $26,231; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.5, $20,731; 3. Ty Harris, 7.8, $15,654; 4. Caddo Lewallen, 8.1, $11,000; 5. (tie) Cory Solomon and Westyn Hughes, 8.3, $5,500 each.
Second Round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.2 seconds, $26,231; 2. Timber Moore, 7.7, $20,731; 3. Tyson Durfey, 8.0, $15,654; 4. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Westyn Hughes, 8.1, $8,885 each; 6. Tyler Milligan, 8.2, $4,231.
Third Round: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.0 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Hunter Herrin and Tyson Durfey, 7.3, $18,192 each; 4. Shane Hanchey, 7.4, $11,000; 5. Adam Gray, 7.8, $6,769; 6. Westyn Hughes, 8.1, $4,231.
Fourth Round: 1. Adam Gray, 7.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Westyn Hughes, 7.9, $20,731; 3. Tyson Durfey, 8.0, $15,654; 4. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $11,000; 5. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Haven Meged, 8.4, $5,500 each.
Fifth Round: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Shane Hanchey, 7.5, $20,731; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 8.2, $15,654; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.3, $11,000; 5. Haven Meged, 8.4, $6,769; 6. Cory Solomon, 8.7, $4,231.
Sixth Round: 1. Haven Meged, 6.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Hunter Herrin, 6.9, $20,731; 3. Tyler Milligan, 7.5, $15,654; 4. Cory Solomon, 7.8, $11,000; 5. Shane Hanchey, 7.9, $6,769; 6. Caddo Lewallen, 8.1, $4,231.
Seventh Round: 1. Hunter Herrin, 6.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tuf Cooper, 7.0, $20,731; 3. Cory Solomon, 7.5, $15,654; 4. Shad Mayfield, 7.8, $11,000; 5. Shane Hanchey, 7.9, $6,769; 6. Caddo Lewallen, 8.2, $4,231.
Eighth Round: 1. Westyn Hughes, 7.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Hunter Herrin, 7.5, $20,731; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 7.8, $15,654; 4. (tie) Cory Solomon and Tyler Milligan, 7.9, $8,885 each; 6. Adam Gray, 8.1, $4,231.
Ninth Round: 1. Tuf Cooper, 6.9 seconds, $26,231; 2. Marty Yates, 7.0, $20,731; 3. Ty Harris, 7.3, $15,654; 4. Adam Gray, 7.6, $11,000; 5. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Shane Hanchey, 8.4, $5,500 each.
