BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Five rookies have earned more than $15,000 for the year in the saddle bronc riding and the Resistol Rookie of the Year race still goes through Lucas Macza, who has lead for a majority of the season.
1. Lucas Macza, $31,885
Macza returned to action on May 20 after being out about six weeks due to an injury sustained in San Angelo. On his first ride back, he was 84 points on Disco Fever to finish third at The End of the Trail Western Festival (Nebraska). Macza also won rounds in Fort Worth and San Antonio earlier in the season. He is No. 18 in the PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Standings.
2. Damian Brennan, $29,765
Since April 29, Brennan has ridden 11-of-12 horses with six scores of 82 points or better and has placed in rounds at Old Fort Days (Arkansas) and Back When They Bucked (South Dakota) in the last 10 days. He is currently No. 25 in the PRCA World Standings.
3. Cash Wilson, $23,084
Cash Wilson is No. 30 in the world but has not won a check since an 84.5 point ride won him the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo (California) on April 10.
4. Kody Rinehart, $21,451
In May, Rinehart earned two checks and overall, he has gotten a check on 16 of his last 20 outs. His biggest paydays in that stretch have come from wins at the Ozark Empire Pro Rodeo (Missouri) and the Franklin Rodeo (Tennessee).
5. Brody Wells, $16,701
Brody Wells has made about $3,000 since May 27 thanks to three rides of 82 points or more since then. Dating back to May 5, Wells has covered his last 11 horses and won seven checks.
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