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Table Mountain Casino Invitational Results Are In!
The Event Concludes With Spectacular Rides and High Scores
Owen Washburn rides the great bull Cash for the second week in a row in the championship round of the Fresno PBR.
Photo: Andy Watson
Click here to see more of Andy's PhotosFRESNO, Calif. (March 28, 2004) - “It was getting lonely at the bottom,” stated 1996 PBR World Champion Owen Washburn of Lordsburg, N.M. However, when the dust settled in Fresno’s Save Mart Center Washburn had reclaimed a comfortable position at the top of the most elite bull riding tour in the world. Washburn not only fought for and won the Table Mountain Casino Invitational event championship, but decisively ended a season-long slump. The fifteenth stop on the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) presented by Wrangler came to an exciting end with thrilling final round performances.
Washburn trounced the competition in a decisive six and one-half point victory earning the Table Mountain Casino Invitational title and $34,418 in PBR cash. Washburn’s 87-point score during the first go-round coupled with his conservative 82.5 point second go-round performance placed him in the driver’s seat as the field of fifteen advanced to the third and final round. While Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) dominated the Built Ford Tough Championship Round with an explosive 94-point trip aboard Werewolf Snuff owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls, Washburn’s 93-point effort aboard Cash sealed the deal.
As the last gunner of the night Washburn looked to the leader board which posted a rash of 90-plus performances, and knew that a win would require the ultimate effort. Greg Potter’s (Queensland, AUS) 91.5 finals performance placed him comfortably in the lead for the title before the chute gate cracked and Washburn unleashed his championship form against the legendary bull Cash of the renowned Don Kish breeding program.
Washburn turned up the heat in Fresno when the tension mounted stating, “I felt a lot of pressure just like I did last week because I’m in a position where the goal is not to earn a world title but to get the Finals made.”
Washburn made an equally spectacular ride aboard the infamous Cash during last weekend’s Tacoma Classic where he topped the final field of fifteen with a 92.5 point performance. “He (Cash) was maybe just a little better this week than last week. He went to the left right there in the gate and I got a little bit out of shape too so maybe he just seemed like he bucked harder than he did last week.”
Of the slump that has haunted him through the course of 2004 Washburn explained, “It seems like I experience a slump like this about every year, and anyone that’s known me through my entire life knows that that’s typical for me.”
After taking a hiatus from the sport during 2001, Washburn returned to the arena in 2002 with a vengeance. Washburn owns the record for the highest payout at a regular season PBR event of $125,710 which he earned in Bossier City, La. during 2003. Fans can anticipate more stats to fall as Washburn rides the upswing out of his 2004 slump.
As selected by the event judges, the top bull honors were awarded to Flying U Rodeo Company’s Reindeer Dippin’ and second place went to Don Kish Bucking Bulls' Wild Side.
The Table Mountain Casino Invitational introduced the ultimate in PBR freestyle bullfighting action as bullfighters attempted to qualify in Fresno for the World Bullfighting Championships in Las Vegas in October. The World Bullfighting Championship qualifier from Fresno will air on OLN from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. (EST) on April 3rd and April 24th. Five-time world champion bullfighter Rob Smets, along with PBR television announcers Justin McKee and Brett Haber will commentary during the OLN special.
The top four freestyle bullfighters qualified to advance to the World Bullfighting Championships are: 1) Jerry Norton (Mitchell, S.D.) $4,500; 2) Donny Sparks (Dekalb, Texas) $2,500; 3) Doug Forzani (Watsonville, Calif.) $1,500; 4) Quirt Hunt (Merna, Neb.) $1,000; 5) Cory Wall (Burlington, Colo.) $500.
PBR commentary during OLN's broadcast of the Table Mountain Casino Invitational is brought to fans by the capable team of Leah Garcia, Brett Haber, Tuff Hedeman, and Justin McKee. Leah Garcia handles the sideline interviews. Since 1998 Garcia has covered professional mountain bike racing, cycling, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, rodeo, and now bull riding. Her work has been seen on NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNN, The Oxygen Network, Syndicated TV, and OLN. Nine-time Emmy award winner Brett Haber, has been a commentator for OLN since March of 2003 and became the play-by-play voice of the PBR in October of that same year. Huber's witty writing style and on-air approach have made him one of the most innovative sportscasters in the country. Tuff Hedeman needs no introduction in bull riding circles. The current PBR President and four-time world champion bull rider brings to the broadcast his vast knowledge of bull riding, as well as tremendous experience behind the microphone as a guest commentator on both OLN and NBC. Justin McKee formerly served as a live event announcer at nearly every tour event virtually since the PBR's inception and has consequently been dubbed "the voice of the PBR."
The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions. More than one million spectators attend PBR events each year. In addition to the weekly shows on OLN (Outdoor Life Network) in the United States and Canada, the PBR features network telecasts on NBC. This unprecedented television coverage has made bull riding one of the fastest growing spectator sports in America and around-the-world.
For more information please contact Bonnie Wheatley, PR Department at 719.471.3008, ext. 3134 or visit www.pbrnow.com.
BEHIND THE CHUTES: Mossy Oak Shoot Out: The Mossy Oak Shoot Out bonus money that was up for grabs during the Table Mountain Casino Invitational went unclaimed when Mike Lee (Alvord, Texas) failed to cover this week's Mossy Oak bonus bull Lying Eyes of Salt River Rodeo Company's.
Enterprise Ride with the Best Bonus: Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.), last weekend's Tacoma Classic event winner, was qualified to win the "Enterprise Ride with the Best" bonus money which he did when he successfully topped his first go-round bull to earn the $5,000 reward. McBride failed to receive the additional $5,000 bonus during second go-round action.
As the Table Mountain Casino Invitational event champion, Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, N.M.) is eligible for the "Enterprise Ride with the Best" bonus at next weekend's BFTS tour stop in Billings, Mont. If Washburn successfully covers either of his preliminary go round bulls, he will earn an additional $5,000 per ride sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus: Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, N.M.) led the event going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round as well as successfully capturing the over-all event championship and in so doing earned the Ford Truck Moment of Truth bonus of $5,000. Bud Light Short Go Top Qualifiers Bonus: Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, N.M.) was awarded the $2,500 Bud Light Short Go Top Qualifier Bonus since he advanced to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in the top spot and participates in the program by wearing the Bud Light patch.
INJURY REPORT: No injuries to report.
Table Mountain Casino Invitational Event Results: FIRST ROUND: 1) Mike Lee (Alvord, Texas) 92.5 points on Don Kish Bucking Bulls' Real Deal, $2,730; 2) Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.) 89.5 points on Ed Hill Bucking Bulls' Scream Machine, $1,950; 3) James White (Houston, Texas) 88 points on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Hair Trigger, $1,170; 4) Reuben Geleynse (Winchester, Ont., Canada) 87.5 points on Alex Naccarato’s Squaw Butte, $780;
SECOND ROUND: 1) Cody Whitney (Asher, Okla.) 90.5 points on Don Kish Bucking Bulls’ Lock and Load, $2,730; 2) Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) 90 points on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Hair Trigger, $1,950; 3) Adriano Moraes (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 88 points on Tim Hopkin’s Glitter, $1,170; 4/5) Willis Trosclair (Thibodeaux, La.) 87.5 points on Simpson and Thornton Bucking Bulls’ Sheep Dip, $624; 4/5) Gary Richard (Houston, Texas) 87.5 points on Art Watson’s Artemus, $624;
BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) 94 points on Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls’ Werewolf Snuff, $2,730; 2) Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, N.M.) 93 points on Don Kish Bucking Bulls' Cash, $1,950; 3) Mike Lee (Alvord, Texas) 92.5 points on Don Kish Bucking Bulls' Radical Ride, $1,170; 4/5) Jody Newberry (Ada, Okla.) 91.5 points on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Geronimo, $624; 4/5) Greg Potter (Queensland, AUS) 91.5 points on Don Kish Bucking Bulls' Real Deal, $624;
OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS: 1) Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, N.M.) 262.5 points, $34,418; 2) Greg Potter (Queensland, AUS) 256 points, $12,624; 3) Jody Newberry (Ada, Okla.) 252.5 points, $8,124; 4) Paul Gavin (Monmouth, Ill.) 252 points, $4,556;
BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1) Adriano Moraes (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 5,930.5 points; 2) Mike Lee (Alvord, Texas) 4,687.5 points; 3) Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) 4,469 points; 4) Jody Newberry (Ada, Okla.) 3,278 points; 5) Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.) 3,177.5 points; 6) Greg Potter (Queensland, AUS) 2,994 points; 7) Mike White (Dekalb, Texas) 2,604 points; 8) Reuben Geleynse (Winchester, Ont.) 2,458 points; 9) Mike Collins (Haskell, Okla.) 2,362 points; 10) Brendon Clark (Morpeth, NSW) 2,350 points.
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