Last night was an outstanding night for the top 35 bull riders that compete here in the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series as thirteen qualified rides were made. Many fans and analysts were expected to see a phenomenon that was dubbed the Albuquerque Letdown but after everything was all said and done it proved to be nothing as we expected. The outcome of last night’s first round of the Ak-Chin Invitational makes this afternoon’s final two rounds something that will give the cowboys in the locker room the extra grit that will be needed to get by their bovine counterparts.
Round two featured many of the best stock contractors in the world as they brought some of their best bucking stock into the Gila River Arena. Chad Berger and Jared Allen (Matt Scharping) led the pack bringing half of the field that was showcased in round two. The list of bovine talent in round two have given these 35 bull riders here this afternoon a lot of trouble over the first half of the 2017 season so far and looked to continue that path as the action began earlier this afternoon.
Cody Teel Heads Into The Championship Round With The Rd. 2 Win
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
As round two began earlier this afternoon the sold-out crowd was as wild and crazy as we have seen giving the PBR’s exclusive entertainer, Flint Rassmussen, all that he could handle on a Sunday afternoon. Although the crowd was having a good time everyone knew what the task at hand was, waiting to see who would earn qualified rides and make it to the Championship Round later in the day. Those cowboys competing gave their best efforts that allowed many to reign supreme but also caused some of the best bull riders in the world to stub their toes and hit the arena floor a bit early.
Each of the 35 bull riders here this afternoon came in with the mindset of earning a qualified ride would be a must for any chance of advancing to the Championship Round. After a night where thirteen riders made it to the eight-second buzzer, many of the fifteen available spots were already filled making this afternoon’s second round a do or die moment. After all was said and done it would be 9 that would earn qualified rides with Cody Teel taking home the top score of 88 points and the round win atop of Rocking I Rodeo Company’s Crazy Horse!
Complete Break-Down Of Qualified Rides In Round Two Posted Below:
Cody Teel (88.00) Eduardo Aparecido (85.50)
Joao Ricardo Vieira (84.75) Claudio Montanha Jr. (84.75)
Kaique Pacheco (84.25) Cody Nance (83.25)
Derek Kolbaba (82.00) Guilherme Marchi (80.75)
Mason Lowe (79.00)
Cooper Davis Splits The Championship Round Win
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
When the dust settled and the ceremonial championship round bull draft festivities were concluded it was time to see what the match-ups would be for the 2017 Ak-Chin Invitational Championship Round. The excitement inside of the Gala River Arena was electric as the sold-out crowd waited to see what the top fifteen bull riders from the weekend’s event would do paired up with many of the greatest bucking stock going down the road today. Once the match-ups were finalized we all knew what we were in for earlier this afternoon!
When the lights began to shine brightly down on the arena floor once again, it signaled the moment everyone was waiting for, the beginning of the Championship Round on Sunday afternoon. All those in attendance and watching at home were anxious to see who would take home the event win and championship points that went along with it. Today there would be an astounding 7 qualified rides out of the fifteen attempts but those rides put up some huge marks and left the crowd full of excitement. That being said, two men, reigning world champion Cooper Davis and phenom Mason Lowe, would be able to split the Championship Round win after a huge 90.50 point ride2 aboard their bovine counterparts that lit the crowd ablaze here on Sunday afternoon!
Cody Teel Celebrates His Event Win Here In Glendale
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
After all three rounds of action subsided at the 2017 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Ak-Chin Invitational concluded and the in-arena announcers for the weekend, Brandon Bates and Scott Grover regained their breath it was time to introduce the much-anticipated event winner to the fans inside of the Gala River Arena here in Glendale, Arizona. One the stage was set and the spotlights shined atop the shark cage it was time to make things official to close out a fantastic weekend.
Earlier this afternoon, we were all delighted to see a young man regain his swagger and stand in the center of the arena atop the shark cage and accept his event winning check, buckle and championship points with one of the biggest smiles that we have seen all year. After going a dominate 3-for-3 and putting together 258.25 points Cody Teel would be the man leaving Glendale standing a little taller knowing that he has a full-time spot on the Built Ford Tough Series after his huge weekend here in Glendale, Arizona!
Now that the two-day event here in Glendale has concluded it is time to focus our attention on next week as the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series heads back close to my home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Not only is this, once again, a three-day event but it will also give us another look at a special 15/15 Bucking Battle and give us the return of a fan favorite bull rider. Missouri’s own Jess Lockwood is scheduled to return to competition and try to reclaim his number one position in the 2017 world standings. All in all, it will be a fantastic weekend of bull riding action and our entire Rodeo Round Up team will be in attendance to bring you all of the storylines throughout the weekend’s festivities!
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