BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Kade Bruno dominated the inaugural NFR Open in the saddle bronc riding and jumped from No. 13 to No. 8 in the PRCA World Standings after winning almost every round at the event formerly known as the RAM National Circuit Finals.
In total, he made more than $30,000, he was one of three athletes in any event to clear that mark in Colorado Springs.
Bruno got the rodeo started on Thursday night with an 87.5 point ride on Rosser Rodeo’s Warhawk to win Round 1 and put himself in prime position to be in the Top 8 and return for the Semifinals.
"(This year) has been an up and down roller coaster, but it’s going pretty well lately, so I can’t complain,” Bruno said after his Round 1 ride.
He followed that up with 82 in the Second Round for third place, but a two-head total of 169.5 points to win the Long Round Average by five points over Ryder Wright.
On Saturday, Bruno won more than $10,000 for his two rides. He was second in the Eight-Man Semifinals with 85 points and then brought the house down in the Championship Round with a 90 point ride as the last cowboy out to win the NFR Open. That ride Andrews Rodeo’s on All or Nothin was the highest marked roughstock ride of the entire rodeo.
“This is pretty big, I was kind of sitting on the bubble and I was hoping to get a good bit of money won,” he said after the win. “I’m kind of speechless.”
Bruno is averaging 81.26 points per ride with five Go-Round wins in 2022.
KADE BRUNO’S 90 POINT RIDE
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