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STEPHENVILLE (December 5, 2015) — In the toughest 15-man field in the world of tie-down roping, Stephenville cowboy Marty Yates has won a third of his career rounds..
Yates split round two with buddy Hunter Herrin Friday evening, his fourth win in 12 career rounds at the National Finals Rodeo. The Stephenville cowboy roped his calf and finished the wrap and hooey in 7.5 seconds, earning $23,480 to jump to third in the super tight world standings. He is a shade more than $8,000 behind leader Tuf Cooper, with Timber Moore in between at No. 2.
How tight is the tie-down roping?
As many as six different cowboys are within reach of becoming the new world leader after round three, set for 9 p.m. (CST) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. All rounds are televised by CBS Sports.
Stephenville heeler Kory Koontz and heading partner Colby Lovell have risen to the top of the NFR average and to third in the world standings in team roping. They were third for the second straight night Friday, roping head and heels in 4.1 seconds for $15,653.85 each.
Koontz has $119,775.24 in season earnings, just less than $32,000 behind world leader Jade Corkill of Huckabay. Corkill and heading partner Clay Tryan of Lipan missed their calf Friday, opening the door for challengers to their back-to-back world titles.
Other local team ropers in the money Friday were heelers Travis Woodard of Stephenville and Paul Eaves of Huckabay. They split fourth and fifth in 4.2 seconds, earning $8,884.61 each.
Team ropers from Erath County totaled $33,383.07 in the go-round. Seven of the 18 local qualifiers combined to pocket $85,633.07. Through two rounds, 12 area athletes have combined to earn $175,748.66.
Jacobs Crawley continues to soar in the saddle bronc competition, scoring 81 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Spade for $11,000. Crawley, also fourth in the first round Thursday, is third in the average with 163.5 points. He is also third in the world with $140,862.05, less than $11,000 behind world and NFR average leader Wade Sundell.
Four-time world champ Bobby Mote just survived to keep himself in the average with a score of 67 in round one, but bounced back with authority in round two. Mote, who lives in the Huckabay area and lists himself as a Stephenville cowboy, scored 81.5 points on New West Rodeo’s Right Spur, earning $11,000. Mote topped the $100,000 plateau in season earnings. He is sixth in the world at $109,485.69.
Sterling Smith of Stephenville earned money in the second round of his second career NFR appearance. Smith roped and tied in 7.7 seconds to finish fifth in the tie-down roping, picking up $6,769.23. Smith is 14th in the world at $89,065.78.
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