Sandpoint’s Buechner takes 6th; Gray thrown

LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Ryan Gray of Cheney was bucked off during Friday’s eighth-round performance at the National Finals Rodeo but remains second overall in the world earnings with $140,606.84.

Sandpoint’s Rowdy Buechner scored 81.5 for sixth place – earning $2,524 – and is 10th in world earnings with $110,031.90.

Cimmaron Gerke of Fort Worth, Texas, won the round with an 87.5-point ride on Awesome. Cody Demers of Kimberly, Idaho, was second with an 83.5.

With two rounds remaining, Kelly Timberman leads Gerke in the aggregate standings with 669.5 points in eight rounds compared to 669 for Gerke.

In bull riding, Matt Austin wrapped up his first world title, finishing fourth with a 78 in the eighth round.

The 23-year-old Austin, from Wills Point, Texas, has earned $37,355 in the first eight rounds to push his season total to $265,741.

Wesley Silcox of Payson, Utah, won the round with an 86.5 on Keller Special.

In saddle bronc riding, Billy Etbauer of Edmond, Okla., won with an 87.5-point ride on Coffee Break.

In steer wrestling, Stockton Graves of Newkirk, Okla., took the round in 3.3 seconds.

In team roping, Speed Williams and Rich Skelton, both of Llano, Texas, took first with a time of 3.7 seconds.

In tie-down roping, Matt Shiozawa of Chubbuck, Idaho, won his second straight round, in 7.2 seconds.

In barrel racing, Linda Vick of Hesperia, Calif., won in 13.95 seconds.