Buechner wins big in Cheyenne

Area cowboy Rowdy Buechner was one of the big winners when the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo wrapped up Sunday afternoon.

Buechner, who is from Sandpoint but has been listing Moses Lake as his hometown this summer, won the short go-round in bareback riding on the final day of the “Daddy of ‘em All” rodeo to finish with more than $10,000 for the 10-day event.

Buechner, who earned $1,650 for his 87 on Sunday, tied with Andy Martinez of Pavillion, Wyo., in the average, scoring 245 points for his three rides. Both picked up $8,031 for sharing the championship.

Buechner placed sixth in the second go-round with an 80, which pushed his winnings to $10,085. He had a 78 on his first round.

Ryan Gray of Cheney, who was leading the PRCA bareback standings entering Cheyenne, just missed making the short go-round finals with rides of 78 and 77 for 155 points. It took 158 points to make the top 10.

Gray had shot to the top of the standings by winning more than $8,600 at the California Rodeo in Salinas two weeks ago.

Before Cheyenne is figured in, Gray sat atop the standings with almost $80,000, leading Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas, by more than $8,000. Martinez was third with just more than $69,000, but he picked up more than $11,000 in Cheyenne.

Buechner was in 18th place with $31,795, but his Cheyenne winnings will boost him into the top 15. The top 15 at the end of the regular season make the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. Buechner is second in the Columbia River Circuit standings behind former World Champion Bobby Mote, who is seventh in the national standings with more than $57,000.

Andy Bolich, who graduated from Mt. Spokane and Montana State University, had rides of 78 and 72 points in Cheyenne. Bolich is leading the Montana Circuit bareback standings with more than $5,000 in winnings.

Dave Trimmer