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

Branquinho closes in on crown

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS – Luke Branquinho moved a step closer to his third steer wrestling world championship Friday night, finishing second in the second round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to take the season lead.

Shawn Greenfield of Lakeview, Ore., won in 3.6 seconds, while Branquinho, the defending champion from Los Alamos, Calif., followed in 3.7 seconds.

Branquinho, who jumped from third to first, leads Lee Graves of Calgary, Alberta, in the closest world standings race in the NFR.

Branquinho has earned $136,327 to $125,365 for Graves, who didn’t place among the top six with a time of 4.2seconds in the second round.

In saddle bronc, J.J. Elshere of Quinn, S.D., won the round with an 89.5 on Lock & Load.

“I don’t want to look at it (the world standings) yet,” Elshere said. “I just want to look at each day as a new day.”

In barrel racing, defending world champ Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alberta, won with a 13.95-second run.

In bareback riding, Kaycee Feild of Elk Ridge, Utah, won with an 89 on Dusty Dan. Cheney’s Ryan Gray was seventh with a score of 81.5.

In team roping, header David Key of Caldwell, Texas, and heeler Rich Skelton of Llano, Texas, won in a time of 3.9.

In tie-down roping, Scott Kormos of Teague, Texas, placed first with a time of 7.1. Tyson Durfey of Colbert placed 13th with a time of 18.1.

In bull riding, B.J. Schumacher of Hillsboro, Wis., finished first with an 88 on Mission Accomplished. Zack Oakes of Elk was 11th with a score of 74.5.

In all-around, nine-time world champion Trevor Brazile has earned $288,588 to remain in first place.