Spencer Wright wins gold buckle, saddle bronc crown at NFR

LAS VEGAS – Rookie saddle bronc rider Spencer Wright used a fifth-place in the 10th and final round of the National Finals Rodeo on Saturday night to move atop the world standings and win the gold buckle.

Wright, of Milford, Utah, earned $205,388 to top the PRCA world standings after not leading the category in any prior day at the NFR. He ended up second among all NFR competitors with $145,123 in earnings. Wright, whose three older brothers also qualified for the NFR, also won the event’s aggregate standings with 807.5 points over 10 rides after scoring a 79 on Lunatic from Hell.

“I would hope they’re all happy for me and proud of me. They’re my brothers and it makes me happy that they were going crazy for me,” Wright said. “I came in here expecting to do the best I could do, and I guess I really have. This is hard to describe.”

Cort Scheer of Elsmere, Nebraska, second in the world standings with $195,586 after not securing a check with a 71 on Big Fork. He also finished second in the aggregate standings with 764 points over 10 rounds.

Cody DeMoss of Heflin, Louisiana, won round 10 with an 86 on Resistols Top Hat.

In bareback riding, Kaycee Feild of Spanish Fork, Utah, won his fourth straight world title in both the PRCA and NFR aggregate standings with $294,980 after placing second with an 86 on Scarlet’s Web in round 10. His total includes a $48,732 bonus for winning the aggregate crown.

Other gold-buckle winners were: Luke Branquinho (steer wrestling); Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill (team roping); Tuf Cooper (tie-down roping); Fallon Taylor (barrel racing); and Sage Kimzey (bull riding).

In all-around, champion Trevor Brazile closed out the season with $494,369 in earnings.