North Platte, Neb. (June 18, 2015) – A newcomer to the pro rodeo world showed the rest of the bull riders at the second performance of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo how to get it done.

Luke Bradley scored 84 points on the Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.’s bull Drop Tine to take the lead after two nights of rodeo.

His eight second ride was only his second qualified ride in Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association competition, and the North Platte rodeo was only his fourth rodeo of his pro rodeo career.

And it was a rough ride. “It was kind of scratching and clawing, but everything worked out,” he said. “He had me bucked off three or four times, but it seems like he wanted me to ride him.”

The 21 year old cowboy couldn’t wipe the grin off his face after his ride, and the score, which he hopes will stay in first place, is a huge boost for his confidence. “It sends it through the roof,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, and the ride home won’t be so long now.” He and his traveling partners planned on leaving Missouri this morning at 7 am but overslept. “It was quite a trip down here, but we made it in plenty of time.”

Bradley, who also competes in PBR Touring Pro events, hasn’t covered a bull since he won second at a PBR event in Omaha a month ago. “It’s kind of been a dry spell,” he said. “You have to ride your way out of it.” But the smile on his face will be there for a while.

And he hopes to have a pocket full of cash after the rodeo ends Saturday night, which will help pay entry fees for upcoming rodeos. He’s entered in the Greeley, Colo. and Springdale, Ark. rodeos, and if he can continue to win, his co-workers at a propane company in Rogers, Ark. will see less of him. They’re not family by blood, but “I guess you’d call them family,” he said. “They cheer for me. They’re good people.”

Other leaders from Thursday’s slack and performance are bareback rider Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, S.D. who is tied for the lead with 83 points, steer wrestler Dru Melvin, Hebron but originally from Tryon, Neb., (3.5 seconds), tie-down roper Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas (8.1), saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah (84), team ropers Brian Dunning, McClave, Colo. and Jesse Jolly, Agate, Colo. (5.6), and barrel racer C.J. Vondette, Rifle, Colo. (17.67).

Tonight was Tough Enough to Wear Pink night at the rodeo, and three cancer survivors: Randy Billingsley, North Platte, Jo Morphew, North Platte, and Jessica Vapenik, Wallace, were honored. All three got treatment at the Callahan Cancer Center at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Night number three of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo takes place on Friday, June 19 at the Wild West Arena in North Platte. Tickets are available online at www.NebraskaLandDays.com, at the NLD office or at the gate.

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Leaders after the second performance and slack, June 18, 2015

North Platte, Nebraska – Buffalo Bill Rodeo

Bareback riding

1 Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, S.D. 83 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Rage; 2. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 82; Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 81; Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 80.

Steer wrestling

1^st go-round (completed after slack today)

1 Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 3.6 seconds; 2 (tie) Stan Branco, Chowchilla, Calif. and Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb. 3.8 each; 4. (tie) Ty Talsma, Verdire, Neb., Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas and Brad Loesch, Graham, Texas 3.9 each.

2^nd go-round

1 Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb. 3.5; 2. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 3.6; 3. Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont. 3.8; 4. Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan. 4.1

Tie-down roping – 2^nd go-round (completed after slack today)

1 Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas 8.1 seconds; 2. Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb. 8.2; 3. Caleb Smidt, Belleville, Texas 8.9; 4. Catfish Brown, Collinsville, Texas 9.1; 5. Will Howell, Stillwater, Okla. 9.2; 6. Cody Quaney, Cheney, Kan. 9.3.

2^nd go-round

1 Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas 8.1; 2. Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb. 8.8; 3. Cody Quaney, Cheney, Kan. 9.0; 4. Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 9.3

Saddle bronc riding

1 Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah; 84 points; 2. Travis Nelson, Philip, S.D. 78; 3. Ryan Bestol, Hyanis, Neb. 77; 4. (tie) Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. and Colton Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo. 76 each.

Team Roping

1^st go round (completed after performance)

1 Chase Wiley, Charlotte, Texas/Ace Pearce, Washington, Texas 5.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Colt Braden, Dewey, Okla./Chad Evans, Fourland, Okla. and Adam Rose, Willard, Mo./Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas 5.9 each; 4. Rowdy Rieken, Arp, Texas/Clay Sieber, Troup, Texas 6.0; 5. Pate Norell, Delta, Colo./DJ Tidyman, Carpenter, Wyo. 6.3; 6. (tie) Travis Warren, Mullen, Neb./Ty Reynolds, Tribune, Kan. and Blaine Vick, Dublin, Texas and Twister Cain, Gonzales, Texas 6.4 each.

2^nd go-round

1 Brian Dunning, McClave, Colo./Jesse Jolly, Agate, Colo., 5.6 seconds; 2. Rowdy Rieken, Arp, Texas/Clay Sieber, Troup, Texas 5.7; 3. Blaine Vick/Twister Cain, 5.8; 4. Adam Rose, Willard, Mo./Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas 5.9.

Barrel racing

1 CJ Vondette, Rifle, Colo. 17.67 seconds; 2. Michelle Lummus, Hiram, Ga. 17.72; 3. Kelley Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo. 17.82; 4. (tie) Megan Williams-Mariluch, Daingerfield, Texas and Calyssa Thomas, Harrold, S.D. 17.94 each.

Bull riding

1 Luke Bradley, Seligman, Mo. 84 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Drop Tine; 2. Pistol Robinson, Coolidge, Texas 67; 3. Brian Larson, Erie, Colo. 66; no other qualified rides.

** All results are unofficial.