Photo: Olie Moss | Olie’s Images, LLC
At the 43rd annual Bob Feist Invitational on Sunday, just seven hundredths of a second over six steers separated the top two teams. Beating out Pace Freed and Cole Wilson for first,
Kal Fuller and Reagan Ward split a check worth a record $150,000.
“Words can’t describe this,” said Ward. “My header is pretty phenomenal. I’ve never met a 20-year-old that can do the stuff he can do. Most people can’t even do what he can do.”
This year relocating to the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, following the cancellation of the Reno Rodeo, The Feist not only saw big payouts payouts (totaling nearly $680,000) but also a record number of contestants in 2020. Usually limited to 100 teams, the BFI allowed 140 entries this year, and the lineup was stacked with big names such as Trevor Brazile, Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins, Derrick Begay, Clay Smith and Jade Corkill, Kory Koontz, Joseph Harrison, Charly Crawford and Logan Medlin, Luke Brown and Patrick Smith, Chad Masters and Wesley Thorp, Erich Rogers and Paden Bray, Trey Yates, and dad JD Yates — to name a few.
But Fuller and Ward didn’t let the stiff competition get to them. “I blocked all the pressure out in my mind and tried to just think of it as another practice steer,” said Fuller.
2020 AWARDS
The annual Rickey Green Overall Fast Time Award went to Cory Clark and Wyatt Cox, whose 4.65-second time won the fourth round and was the only sub-5-second run of the day.
The Montana Silversmiths Head Horse of the BFI Award went to Ima Monty Leo (“Dude”) ridden by Chris Francis, who placed seventh in the aggregate with partner Cade Passig.
Trey Yates won the Heel Horse of the BFI award for his black gelding, In The Nic Of Shine (“Tux”).
ROUND RESULTS
First Round: 1. Cody Snow and Junior Nogueira, 7.04 seconds, $8,000; 2. Austin Crist and TJ Watts, 7.10, $6,000; 3. Casey Hicks and Steve Orth; Colby Lovell and Paul Eaves, 7.24 each; $3,000 each.
Second Round: 1. Justin Johnson and Cole Curry, 5.85 seconds, $8,000; 2. Aaron Macy and Jason Johe, 5.95, $6,000; 3. Rhen Richard and Jeremy Buhler, 6.09, $4,000; 4. Wyatt Imus and Joseph Harrison, 6.6, $2,000.
Third Round: 1. Brooks Dahozy and Brandon Bates, 5.30 seconds, $8,000; 2. Cole Morgan and Jett Hillman, 5.95, $6,000; 3. Colby Lovell and Paul Eaves, 6.06, $4,000; 4. Riley Minor and Brady Minor, 6.08, $2,000.
Fourth Round: 1. Cory Clark and Wyatt Cox, 4.65 seconds, $8,000; 2. Clay Tryan and Jake Long, 5.24, $6,000; 3. Clay Smith and Jade Corkill, 5.31, $4,000; 4. Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves, 5.58, $2,000.
Fifth Round: 1. Cory Kidd and Clay Futrell, 5.15 seconds, $8,000; 2. Clay Smith and Jade Corkill, 5.67, $6,000; 3. Riley Minor and Brady Minor, 5.83, $4,000; 4. Jake Barnes and Rich Skelton, 5.85, $2,000.
Short Round: 1. Kal Fuller and Reagan Ward, 6.04, $5,000; 2. Chris Francis and Cade Passig, 6.33, $3,000; 3. Casey Hicks and Steve Orth, 7.11, $2,000; 4. Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins, 7.13, $1,000.
AVERAGE RESULTS
Kal Fuller and Reagan Ward, $75,000 each
Pace Freed and Cole Wilson, $50,000 each
Paul D Tierney and Matt Kasner, $37,000 each
Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins, $27,000 each
Tyler Wade and Billie Jack Saebens, $20,500 each
Casey Hicks and Steve Orth $15,000 each
Chris Francis and Cade Passig, $12,000 each
Matt Sherwood and Trey Yates, $8,000 each
Cody Snow and Junior Nogueira, $7,000 each
Derrick Begay and Ty Romo, $6,500 each
Riley S Minor and Brady J Minor, $6,000 each
Trey Blackmore and Kory Bramwell, $5,500 each
Tate Kirchenschlager and Ross Ashford, $5,000 each
Lane Ivy and Dillon Wingereid, $4,750 each
JR Dees and Cody Cowden, $4,750 each