BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Hailey Kinsel has the Round 3 record at the NFR and delivered again this year.
After stopping the clock at 13.61 seconds in Round 2, Kinsel picked up her 13th Go-Round win in the Thomas & Mack Center by putting together a 13.59-second run in Round 3.
Kinsel, a three-time World Champion, is now within $26,000 of No. 1 Jordon Briggs.
“Definitely important (to take advantage being top of the ground),” Kinsel said. “We’re going to take advantage of all of those opportunities as much as we can.”
In team roping, Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith captured some Round 3 magic of their own by setting a round record with a 3.6-second run.
Afterward, first-time NFR qualifier Tomlinson and his 13-year NFR veteran partner were effusive in their praise of each other.
“It’s kind of like the new Top Gun movie, ‘don’t think, just do,’” Smith said. “Tanner’s amazing at going fast, anytime the run starts happening like that, it honestly takes some of the pressure off, you’ve just gotta react and go a quick as you can.”
BAREBACK RIDING
Two-time NFR Average Champion Jess Pope added another Go-Round win to his already terrific career on rodeo’s biggest stage.
Pope, the World No. 1, anchored the Eliminator Pen with an 86.5-point ride on Mr. Harry to take an early five-point lead in this year’s Average.
1. Jess Pope, 86.5, $28,914
2. Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $22,851
3. R.C. Landingham, 85, $17,2554
4. Kaycee Feild, 84, $12,125
5. Cole Reiner, 83.5, $7,462
6. Tim O’Connell, 82.5, $4,664
STEER WRESTLING
World No. 1 Stetson Jorgensen picked up his first round after Top 3 finishes in Rounds 1 and 2. His 3.5-second run is the fastest of the rodeo so far and he has an early 1.4-second lead in the Average.
1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.5, $28,914
2. Will Lummus, 3.8, $22,851
T3. Dakota Eldridge, 4.1, $14,690
T3. Kyle Irwin, 4.1, $14,690
5. J.D. Struxness, 4.3, $7,462
6. Tristan Martin, 4.5, $4,664
TEAM ROPING
Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith moved to second in the Average in record-setting fashion with their 3.6-second run. The team ropers had to be 4.3 seconds or faster to get paid Saturday night.
1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 3.6, $28,914
2. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.8, $22,851
3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 4.1, $17,255
T4. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.3, $8,083
T4. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 4.3, $8,083
T4. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.3, $8,083
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Hailey Kinsel was not the only back-to-back winner as Lefty Holman was 90.5 points on Vold Rodeo’s Sun Glow to take consecutive wins. Holman is No. 3 in the World Standings and No. 1 in the NFR Average. World No. 1 Sage Newman has placed in all three rounds and sits third in the Average.
1. Lefty Holman, 90.5, $28,914
2. Stetson Wright, 88.5, $22,851
T3. Chase Brooks, 88, $14,690
T3. Sage Newman, 88, $14,690
5. Kolby Wanchuk, 87.5, $7,462
T6. Tanner Butner, 87, $2,332
T6. Zeke Thurston, 87, $2,332
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Cory Solomon notched the first sub-7 second time of this year’s NFR to prevail and a very fast tie-down roping round. Seven cowboys were 7.7 seconds or faster.
1. Cory Solomon, 6.9, $28,914
2. Kincade Henry, 7.4, $22,851
T3. Caleb Smidt, 7.5, $14,690
T3. John Douch, 7.5, $14,690
5. Macon Murphy, 7.6, $7,462
T6. Tyler Milligan, 7.7 $2,332
T6. Haven Meged, 7.7, $2,332
BARREL RACING
Hailey Kinsel is now No. 2 in the world after winning Round 3. She has now placed in 8-of-9 NFR rounds dating back to last year.
1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.59, $28,914
2. Dona Kay Rule, 13.74, $22,851
3. Lisa Lockhart, 13.78, $17,255
4. Shelley Morgan, 13.80, $12,125
5. Jordon Briggs, 13.86, $7,462
6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $4,664
BULL RIDING
JR Stratford and Garrett Smith were both 90 points to lead the way on a night that five bull riders were marked 85.5 points or higher.
T1. JR Stratford, 90, $25,882
T1. Garrett Smith, 90, $25,882
T3. Creek Young, 86.5, $14,690
T3. Josh Frost, 86.5, $14,690
5. Ky Hamilton, 85.5, $7,462
6. Trevor Kastner, 75, $4,664