Willert posts 87.5 mark in saddle bronc riding

LAS VEGAS – Jeffery Willert of Belvidere, S.D., scored 87.5 points on Domino Theory on Friday night to win the first round of saddle bronc in the National Finals Rodeo and increase his lead in the season standings.

Willert pushed his season total to $175,277, almost $25,000 more than second-place Cody DeMoss of Crowville, La.

“No, no pressure at all,” said Willert about entering the NFR as the PRCA leader. “Last year, I came in 16th (the top 15 qualify for the NFR) because Dan (Mortensen) got hurt. That was a lot of pressure, thinking guys weren’t sure if I really belonged there. This year I proved myself. I won more money ($15,738) already than I did in all 10 rounds last year.”

Rusty Allen of Lehi, Utah, was second with an 87, and Cody Wright of Milford, Utah was third at 85.5.

In bareback riding, Wes Stevenson of Kaufman, Texas, won with 87.5 points on Airforce Hostage. Royce Ford of Kersey, Colo., was second with 86.5, and Kelly Timberman of Mills, Wyo., and Cimmaron Gerke of Fort Worth, Texas, tied for third at 85. Ryan Gray of Cheney is fifth, at 83.0, and won $4,062.

In tie-down roping, Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, won with a time of 7.4 seconds. He was followed by runner-up Stran Smith of Childress, Texas, with a 7.5 and third-place finishers Houston Hutto of Del Rio, Texas, and Blair Burk of Durant, Okla., at 7.7 each.

Ohl, the world-record holder in his event with a time of 6.5 at the 2003 NFR, tore his groin muscle during his victory.

“I knew I tore it right when I got off,” Ohl said.

Garrett Nokes of McCook, Neb., took first place in steer wrestling with a run of 3.5 seconds. Cash Myers of Athens, Texas, was second in 3.6, and Lee Graves of Canada finished third in 4.0.

In team roping, Wade Wheatley of Hughson, Calif., and Kyle Lockett of Ivanhoe, Calif., claimed first place in a time of 4.3 seconds. Tee Woolman of Llano, Texas, and Cory Petska of Lexington, Okla., followed in 4.7, and Shain Sproul of Benson, Ariz., and Kinney Harrell of Brady, Texas, finished third in 4.8.

In barrel racing, Denise Adams Fea of Lufkin, Texas, won at 14.06. Close behind were Molly Powell of Stephenville, Texas, in 14.09, and Shali Lord of Lamar, Colo., in 14.10.

Jarrod Ford of Greeley, Colo., was first in bull riding with 90 points on Spotted Jacket. He was followed by Zack Oates of Tonasket, Wash., with an 88.5 and Wesley Silcox of Payson, Utah, at 87.5.