SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (September 17, 2010) - Barely after earning 88.5 points on Train Wreck, Mike Lee returned from the locker room with one question: “What side is that bounty bull on?”
Seven of the top riders had yet to nod their heads, but Lee was already prepared for an opportunity to add another $5,000 to his bank account, courtesy of a special promotion in Springfield.
Lee’s initial score held up for the opening-round win at the PFIwestern.com Invitational, and then he easily made the whistle a second time on another bull to claim the bonus.
“You just have to get on another bull and do your job,” Lee said. “Make it simple.”
Lee’s Round 1 performance was one of his best in 2010.
Lee was marked 45.25 points as a rider – a full two points over the bull – and overtook Brent Atwood and Valdiron de Oliveira for the win. Atwood and Oliveira split second and third with 87.75 points each, followed by Paulo Lima (87.5 points) in fourth, while Luke Synder and J.B. Mauney split fifth and sixth with 86 points each.
“He got me in some trouble and I just didn’t panic,” said Lee afterward. “I kept it simple and kept it to the basics, and I was enjoying myself. That was the key.”
With both Austin Meier and Renato Nunes coming down early, Lee, Oliveira and Mauney all gained some ground in the world standings.
Mauney moved to within 1,012.5 points of the lead.
“I just wasn’t worried about things,” Lee said. “I started holding my breath before I got on and just reminded myself that it’s just another bull. Bull riding doesn’t change.”
Round 2 and the second of the Final Five Showdowns will begin tomorrow evening at the JQH Arena beginning at 6:50 p.m. CT.
