Crawling From The Back, Bronc Riders Take Texas Circuit Finals

Sterling Crawley is leading the average after two consistent rides at the Texas Circuit Finals in Waco, Texas.

Sterling Crawley hasn’t won a round yet in the saddle bronc at the Texas Circuit Finals, but he is leading the event average after Wednesday night in Waco, Texas.

Crawley finished in a tie for third place in the first round with an 80-point ride on Tuesday, followed by his 81-point ride on Wednesday, finishing fourth in the second round. But his 161-point average puts him ahead of the pack with two rounds left, already picking up $1,383 for the week.

He's an experienced Saddle Bronc rider with seven previous National Finals Rodeo qualifications who came up short to make this year his eighth. Crawley is also a former Texas Circuit Finals Saddle Bronc champion, as he claimed his title in 2012.

Logan Cook won the first round with a ride scoring 81.5 points on TNT Pro Rodeo’s "Turbulence." The ride on Tuesday brought him $2,212, placing him second in average behind Crawley with 158 points. Cook has finished in the Top 30 in Saddle Bronc standings the past three seasons.

Wednesday’s top rider was Isaac Diaz, who posted an 85.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's "Palindrone," which brought him $2,212.

Diaz is a seven-time NFR qualifier who won the 2009 Tour Finale and just missed qualification for this year’s event in Las Vegas. Diaz recently had a chance to become the second rider to claim the Triple Crown of Rodeo, but fell just short last weekend.

The ride was enough to help him into the Top 5 in the average after two rounds with 153.5 points.

Behind Crawley and Cook in the average are Brandon Lansford, who is third with 156 points and Jarrod Hammons, who is fourth with 154.5 points. Dean Wadsworth is sixth with 149 points and there are no other qualified rides at the moment.

Texas Circuit Finals

Waco, Texas, Oct. 10-13

First round: 1. Logan Cook, 81.5 points on TNT Pro Rodeo's Turbulence, $2,212; 2. Parker Fleet, 81, $1,659; 3. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Brandon Lansford, 80, $830 each. Second round: 1. Isaac Diaz, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Palindrone, $2,212; 2. Gus Gaillard, 83.5, $1,659; 3. Jarrod Hammons, 81.5, $1,106; 4. Sterling Crawley, 81, $553. Average leaders: 1. Sterling Crawley, 161 points on two head; 2. Logan Cook, 158; 3. Brandon Lansford, 156; 4. Jarrod Hammons, 154.5; 5. Isaac Diaz, 153.5; 6. Dean Wadsworth, 149.