It's good to be Steve Purcella and Jhett Johnson.
The pair headed into the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Justin Boots Playoff event in Puyallup, WA last weekend 21st in the PRCA's World Standings. They left in the number 15 spot, jumping six places after winning the team roping and earning $14,277 a piece in Northwest Washington.
"It was huge," Johnson told the PRCA after he and Purcella had won the four-team final round. The pair not only jumped into the top 25 in the PRCA's World Standings, but they secured a spot in the Justin Boots Championships, which can be heard live on www.prorodeolive.com, September 24-26 from the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Joining Johnson and Purcella on the list of big movers in Puyallup, the reigning World Champion Tie Down Roper, Stran Smith from Texas, who roped his final calf in a time of 7.0 to win the rodeo and more than $17,000. Smith jumped from 45th to 24th in the World Standings, and from 13th to 3rd in the Tour Standings, earning himself a trip to Omaha in the process.
"We have a great Tour system in place where we can win big money like this, so a guy like me, who was outside the top 50 (during the season) can realistically still make the Finals," Smith said.
Saddle bronc rider Shaun Stroh from North Dakota had a huge weekend. Stroh rode the Flying 5 Rodeo Company's Sundance for 86 points in the championship round to win the rodeo, he won more than $15,000 in Puyallup to move up to third in the Tour Standings and punch his ticket to Omaha. Stroh, who also won the Lewiston Round-Up over the weekend, put himself in position to make a return trip to the Wrangler NFR, moving up to 15th in the PRCA's World Standings.
Puyallup's top two money winners, bull rider Bobby Welsh from Wyoming won more than $23,000. He's fourth in the World Standings and went over $100,000 for the year. Reigning bareback riding World Champion Justin McDaniel from Oklahoma won his event in Puyallup, and more than $20,000. McDaniel is now 4th in the World Standings and has won $103,000 for the year.
World Standings Leader Brittany Pharr set an arena record in the finale in Puyallup, turning three barrels in 14.04 to win her event in more than $15,000.
There was a tie in the steer wrestling's championship round, Jake Rinehart from South Dakota and Hunter Cure from TX were both 3.8. Rinehart won the rodeo based on a tie breaker. He moved to the top spot in the World Standings courtesy of a $16,000 payday in Puyallup.
The individual event winners at the Justin Boots Playoff event of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour, September 11-13 in Puyallup, WA...
Bareback - Justin McDaniel, OK
Steer Wrestling - Jake Rinehart, SD
Team Roping - Steve Purcella, TX and Jhett Johnson, WY
Bronc Riding - Shaun Stroh, ND
Tie Down Roping - Stran Smith, TX
Barrel Racing - Brittany Pharr, TX
Bull Riding - Bobby Welsh, WY
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