Road to Nationals Finals Rodeo Goes Through Cinch Playoffs Governor's Cup

With more than $1,000,000 on the line at the Cinch Playoffs Governor's Cup, it's the last major chance for athletes to qualify for the Nationals Finals Rodeo.

The last busy weekend of rodeos has finished. Stephenville, Amarillo, San Bernardino, and several other rodeos have come to a close. Money was won, movements were made in and out of the top-15.

The last weekend in September will also be a busy rodeo weekend.  There will be rodeos in more than a half-dozen states from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. But South Dakota will be the focus for most fans and many contestants. Sioux Falls will be home to the Cinch Playoffs Governor's Cup.

In every event, there is a mathematical possibility that the list of top-15 qualifiers for each event at the National Finals Rodeo, could be shaken up. Here is a look at each event heading into Sioux Falls:

Bareback Riding

The 12 bareback competitors for the Governor's Cup:

1. Kennan Hayes
2. Kade Sonnier
3. Clayton Biglow
4. Tim O'Connell
5. Orin Larsen
6. Jayco Roper
7. Cole Reiner
8. Jess Pope
9. Dean Thompson
10. Richmond Champion
11. Jacob Lees
12. Mason Clements

Cole Franks is not on the list of bareback competitors in Sioux Falls. Franks currently sits 15th in the NFR qualification race. Jacob Lees is currently 17th in the world rankings and sits about $10,000 behind Franks. 

Mason Clements, who is 19th in the world, only needs about $12,000 to pass up Franks. Richmond Champion is currently 14th in the earnings for this year. It is possible that both Lees and Clements could move into the top-15. Champion and Dean Thompson, especially Champion, needs to earn some money in South Dakota to ensure the opportunity to compete inside the Thomas and Mack Arena in December.

Steer Wrestling

Also absent in the Governor's Cup, is the number 15 contestant in the current PRCA steer wresting standings. Here's who is in:

1. Dalton Massey
2. Tyler Waguespack
3. Jesse Brown
4. Ty Erickson
5. Dakota Eldridge
6. Wil Lummus
7. JD Struxness
8. Stephen Culling
9. Cody Devers
10. Nick Guy
11. Tristan Martin
12. Kyler Dick

Don Payne is currently 15th in steer wrestling with earnings of $83,102. Payne did not qualify for Sioux Falls. He is behind Nick Guy, 14th in earnings, by about $650. Tristan Martin, 24th in the PRCA standings, is over $21,000 behind Payne. Kyler Dick is more than $32,000 behind Payne and currently 33rd in the world standings. 

With the money available at the Cinch Championship, one cannot completely count Martin and Dick out of the NFR race; however, it will be tough for them to displace Payne and Guy to make it to Las Vegas in December.

Team Roping

Heading

Heading and heeling could both be very interesting to see who makes it to Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It could be especially interesting, because like the previous events we discussed, the number 15 man did not qualify. Here are the Cinch Championship qualifiers on the horn end of the steers:

1. Kaleb Driggers
2. Nelson Wyatt
3. Tyler Wade
4. Derrick Begay
5. Tanner Tomlinson
6. Coleman Proctor
7. Marcus Thierot
8. Luke Brown
9. Clay Smith
10. Coy Rahlman
11. Brenten Hall
12. Clint Summers

Not only did Cody Snow, the header currently in the 15th position, not qualify, the number 16 cowboy, Dawson Graham, did not qualify either. 

However, the cowboys sitting in the 17-19 positions, will all be in Sioux Falls. Less than $10,000 separates Clint Summers, number 19, from the 15th spot. Even more interesting to watch will be Coy Rahlman, the number 17 man in the world. Rahlman is less than $2,500 behind Snow and a potential trip to the NFR. Brenten Hall only needs about $3,000 to have a good chance at seeing the Vegas lights. With just over $2,400, Rahlman, could be competing for the 14th spot on the earning list. Team roping could be the event to watch at the Governor's Cup.

Heeling

Unlike the previous events, the number 15 cowboy in the PRCA earnings will be competing in South Dakota. As with the headers, the heelers have little room for error before some of their bubbles could be popped for the season. Here is who will be heeling this weekend:

1. Junior Noguieira
2. Wesley Thorp
3. Colter Todd
4. Patrick Smith
5. Logan Medlin
6. Jake Long
7. Hunter Koch
8. Jonathan Torres
9. Cole Curry
10. Paden Bray
11. Coleby Payne
12. Ross Ashford

Paden Bray is the number 15 cowboy in the world in heeling. Bray has less than a $3,000 cushion over number 17, Coleby Payne. Both Payne and Bray will be fighting to make the trip from their hometown of Stephenville, TX, to Las Vegas. Ross Ashford, in the 22nd position, is currently just under $12,000 from the 15th spot. Even Cole Curry, the number 14 cowboy, who will be in Sioux Falls, needs to be prepared for a challenge from Bray, Payne, and Ashford. Anything could happen between these cowboys as the final standings are posted.

Saddle Bronc

Isaac Diaz, who is currently 15th in the PRCA Saddle Bronc standings, will not be in South Dakota this upcoming weekend. The athletes that will be competing in Saddle Bronc this weekend at the Governor's Cup are:

1. Stetson Wright
2. Sage Newman
3. Zeke Thurston
4. Kade Bruno
5. Dawson Hay
6. Wyatt Casper
7. Ryder Wright
8. Daman Brennan
9. Ryder Sanford
10. Q Taylor
11. Tanner Butner
12. Sterling Crawley

In saddle bronc, less than $6,000 separates the 14th spot on the earnings list from the 18th position. Ryder Sanford currently occupies the 14th spot. Sanford will be in Sioux Falls this weekend. Diaz, the number 15 cowboy, will not be at the Cinch Championships. However, Q Taylor, the 16th cowboy on the earnings list, will be in South Dakota and as of today, only needs $2,400 to catch Diaz and $3,800 to catch Sanford. 

Tanner Butner and Taylor are only separated by about $2,000. Sanford, Taylor and Butner will all be in Sioux Falls battling to stay above or get into the coveted top-15 spots on the PRCA Saddle Bronc earnings list.

Tie-Down Roping

Yes, the top-10 in the world in tie-down roping have all qualified for South Dakota and will be competing this weekend. Do not anticipate a lot of movement in the overall top-15 standings.  Although, there could be some. Here is the list of cowboys for tie-down in Sioux Falls:

1. Riley Webb
2. Haven Meged
3. Shad Mayfield
4. Shane Hanchey
5. Ty Harris
6. Cory Solomon
7. Blane Cox
8. Westyn Hughes
9. Caleb Smidt
10. John Douch
11. Kincaid Henry
12. Luke Potter

Absent from the qualifier list is Tuf Cooper, who is now 15th in the PRCA tie-down earnings. Only one contestant at the Governor's Cup is below Cooper in the standings. Luke Potter is currently 16th in the standings and needs just under $9,000 to catch Cooper. With other rodeos happening this weekend, Cooper will still be competing to earn money. The NFR list for tie-down roping could look a little different from today's current standings. Especially, as close as the 16th position is to the 14th position.

Barrel Racing

Currently, in the race for the NFR, positions 10-15 are separated by less than $9,000. All of those cowgirls, except Sissy Winn, number 11 in the standings, will be at the Cinch Championship. Here is the list of barrel racers for the Governor's Cup:

1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi
2. Taycie Matthews
3. Jessica Routier
4. Emily Beisel
5. Wenda Johnson
6. Stevi Hillman
7. Hailey Kinsel
8. Summer Kosel
9. Sue Smith
10. Paige Jones
11. Kelly Allen
12. Ashley Castleberry

Paige Jones is the number 15 cowgirl in the barrel racing standings.  She is currently $200 out of 14th place and less than $1,000 from the 13th spot. Trying to catch her in South Dakota is number 17, Kelly Allen and number 18, Ashley Castleberry. Allen is just over $14,000 behind Jones, while Castleberry is only $15,000 out of the top-15. Summer Kosel, the 13th cowgirl on the earnings list, Sue Smith, 14th in earnings, and Jones, all know they will need to be ready to defend their positions to make the trip to Las Vegas.

Bull Riding

As with several of the other events, the number 15 cowboy did not qualify for the Governor's Cup. This means we will not see Cullen Telfer in South Dakota. However, we will see the following bull riders:

1. Stetson Wright
2. Ky Hamilton
3. Josh Frost
4. Tristen Hutchings
5. Trey Holston
6. Tristin Parker
7. Trey Kimzey
8. Hayes Weight
9. Cody Teel
10. Jeff Askey
11. Trey Benton
12. Clayton Sellars

The top-five in the PRCA world standings will all be in Sioux Falls. The question is, will Telfer be able to hold the 15th spot? Trey Benton, the 17th-ranked cowboy, is almost $18,000 behind Telfer. Benton will need to win big to change up the list of top-15 bull riders headed to the Thomas and Mack.

There are several rodeos left to ride.  Although Cinch is the biggest, there is room for other competitors to make a move and possibly spoil some NFR dreams. At the end of the weekend, for several athletes, making it to the NFR as a contestant will be dependent upon the road trip to Sioux Falls for the Cinch Payoffs Governor's Cup.