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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Durfey, Gray shine bright

Tyson Durfey had a busy weekend.

The Colbert cowboy stopped by the Cheney Rodeo on Saturday and placed second in tie-down roping, his 9.8-second run earning him $1,328.

Sandwiched around that was a win in Elgin, Ore., where he went 8.6 seconds for $1,495, and a tie for third at the Dinosaur Roundup in Vermal, Utah, his 8.2-second run paying $2,544.

With almost $6,000 in winnings he moved into ninth in the PRCA standings with more than $43,000.

Meanwhile, bareback rider Ryan Gray had to miss his hometown rodeo to compete at the Calgary Stampede and it’s a good thing. Riding four straight days starting on Friday, Gray picked up $10,000 and advanced in this unique tournament-style rodeo.

In pool A, the top four money winners among the 10 competitors advance to the semifinals next Sunday.

Pool B, which begins today, includes Durfey in the tie-down roping.

On Saturday, those outside the top 4 in each pool had another chance to crack into the 10 semifinalists.

The top four from the semifinals make the finals, where first prize is $100,000. However, winnings in Calgary, because there are only 20 contestants per event, do not count in the PRCA standings.

Texas cowboy Fred Werneck earned the biggest check in Cheney, $1,605, for winning the tie-down roping with a 9.5. Gray’s brother Kayle won the saddle bronc and 1,530 for his 80-point ride on Big Bend Rodeo Company’s Open Road.

Dave Trimmer

Golf

Chessey Thomas of Spokane grabbed a share of the first-round lead at the 110th Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship at Port Ludlow (Wash.) Golf Club.

Thomas, who plays for the Tennessee Volunteers, had four birdies and four bogeys in an even-par round of 72 to tie Jayvie Agojo of the Philippines atop the leaderboard.

Defending champion Rachel Morris of Carlsbad, Calif., is in a five-way tie for third place – one stroke off the pace.

• Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho, carded a 4-under-par 68 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the 110th Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship at Tetherow in Bend, Ore.

Nick Sherwood of Albany, Ore., and Matt Rawitzer of Bellingham, Wash., shot 69s.