PRCA Steer Wrestling Standings Update: Hunter Cure’s Lead Shrinks After the Fourth

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BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT

What was once a commanding lead for Hunter Cure has gotten tighter and tighter as we move deeper into the summer. Two weeks ago, only Tyler Waguespack was within $20,000 and now, Tristan Martin and Timmy Sparing are also within striking distance following the Fourth of July run.

1. Hunter Cure, $81,593

Cure won just one $635 check over Fourth of July, but prior to that he won more than $3,000 at the Greeley Stampede (Colorado) on June 30. The two-time World Champion has been No. 1 since winning RodeoHouston on March 19.

2. Tyler Waguespack, $72,569

Waguespack placed in rounds at the Home of Champions Rodeo (Montana), Western Stampede (Utah) and Oakley Independence Day Rodeo (Utah) to bring in about $3,500 over the Fourth. The three-time World Champion has been holding down the No. 2 spot for more than three months.

3. Tristan Martin, $69,321

Since June 25, Martin has won four checks of more than $1,000 and has seven times of 5 seconds flat or faster.

4. Timmy Sparing, $63,009

Sparing was 3.6 seconds to win the Second Round at the St. Paul Rodeo (Oregon) and he was also the champion of the World’s Oldest Rodeo (Arizona). He has moved up nine spots in the World Standings since June 22.

5. Dakota Eldridge, $51,140

Eldridge won more than $8,000 over the Fourth of July thanks to checks of more than $1,000 at the Livingston Roundup (Montana), Cody Stampede (Wyoming), Oakley Independence Day Rodeo and St. Paul Rodeo. He has qualified for eight of the last nine NFRs.

6. Ty Erickson, $48,948

Erickson had his second-fastest time of the season in Cody with a 3.7 second run to take fourth. He was also 4.2 to get a second place check at the Eugene Pro Rodeo (Oregon).

7. J.D. Struxness, $47,959

Struxness has competed in seven rodeos since May 30, but has not won a check.

8. Nick Guy, $47,871

Guy placed in the Average at the Greeley Stampede, but over Fourth of July weekend, he had five no times on his five runs.

9. Stetson Jorgensen, $46,701

Jorgensen won about $7,500 for his Fourth of July run with his biggest check coming from a 3.8 second run in Cody. Jorgensen’s average time of 5.97 seconds is the best of his career.

10. Dalton Massey, $46,104

From June 23-25, Massey won the Crooked River Roundup (Oregon) and was fourth at the Lehi Roundup (Utah) to earn over $4,000 combined. Over Cowboy Christmas, he was 3.9 to win Round 1 in St. Paul, which earned him $3,901.

11. Dirk Tavenner, $44,744

Since June 28, Tavenner has won one check on 11 runs.

12. Will Lummus, $43,859

Lummus finished first at the Home of Champions Rodeo (Montana) with a 3.7 second run to win more than $3,000. He also placed sixth in both rounds and second in the Average at the World’s Oldest Rodeo to win more than $5,000 for the event. The four-time NFR qualifier has seven runs of 3.7 seconds or faster in 2022.

13. Payden McIntyre, $40,943

Over Cowboy Christmas, McIntyre had a qualified time on less than half of his runs and won his only check for a second place finish at the Fourth of July Rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona.

14. Trell Etbauer, $39,658

Etbauer won money at five different rodeos over Cowboy Christmas starting with his second place finish in Greeley. He was also second in Killdeer and fourth at the Home of Champions. Overall, he made around $7,000 from June 30-July 4 and was 5.2 seconds or faster on 7-of-8 runs. Etbauer was outside the Top 20 two weeks ago.

15. Talon Roseland, $39,118

Roseland came up empty on 10 runs over Fourth of July weekend, however he finished second at the West of the Pecos Rodeo (Texas) on June 25.

16. Tanner Brunner, $38,906

Since May 8, Brunner has earned $761. He was No. 6 in the World Standings as recently as June 22.

17. Kyle Irwin, $38,780

Irwin jumped into NFR contention thanks to a 3.4 second run to split the win at the one-head Cody Stampede. He was also the champion of the Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo (Oregon) to bring close to $8,000 for the weekend.

18. Rowdy Parrott, $37,580

Parrott won two checks over Cowboy Christmas and both were more than $2,000. He won a round at the World’s Oldest Rodeo and finished second at the Eugene Pro Rodeo.

19. Mike McGinn, $36,271

McGinn won the Short Round in Reno with a 3.5 second run on June 25, but since then, he has pulled in just one check.

20. Jesse Brown, $35,549

Brown competed at three rodeos over the Fourth of July but did win anything on his five runs.

STANDINGS VIA PRORODEO.COM ARE ACCURATE AS OF JULY 7, 2022 AT 3:30 PM ET.