Jesse Bail Close To Linderman
Award; Etbauer Still Has Hope

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer won the average title in his adopted home state Sunday at the State Fair of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

In addition to the average title, the defending world champion won the first and final rounds, scoring 166 points on two head and earning $4704.

As the season draws near an end, Etbauer is precariously close to missing qualification for the 2001 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The four-time world champion's weekend heroics boosted him from 20th to 17th in the Jack Daniel's World Standings. Only the top 15 in each event qualify for the WNFR.

Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., on the other hand, seems to have secured a spot at his first NFR after a solid performance in Oklahoma City. Last year he missed an NFR qualification by one place. He is currently ranked fourth.

For all practical purposes, Jesse Bail of Camp Crook, S.D. has sewn up his second-consecutive Linderman Award with a grand performance at the Poway (Calif.) Rodeo last weekend.

Bail won his signature event, bull riding, with an 88-point ride for $1928. In the saddle bronc riding competition, Bail placed third and collected $1075. Finally, Bail tied for the steer wrestling win with Luke Branquinho. Each cowboy threw his steer in 4.5 seconds and collected $1981. The prize money was Bail's first in a timed event.

The Linderman Award is presented each year to the leading cowboy who wins at least $1000 in each of three events, including a roughstock event and timed event. Bail has earned $128,369 in all events combined and is currently fourth in the Jack Daniel's All-Around Standings.

Current leader in the all-around standings is Cody Ohl, Stephenville, Texas, with total earnings to date of $168,869. He is followed by Trevor Brazile, Pueblo, Colo., with $152,484; Scott Johnston, Gustine Texas, $134,156; Jesse Bail, $128,369; and Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, $122,416.

Standings in individual events:

Bareback riding: 1. Kelly Wardell, Bellevue, Idaho, $104,840; 2. Lan Lajeunesse, Morgan, Utah, $79,971; 3. Bobby Mote, Redmond, Ore., $79,844; 4. Scott Montague, Well, S.D., $67,255; 5. Larry Sandvick, Belle Fourche, S.D., $66,557.

Steer wrestling: 1. Bob Lummus, Folsom, La., $75,923; 2. Birch Negaard, Buffalo, S.D., $73,643; 3. Rod Lyman, Victor, Mont., $65,450; 4. Luck Branquinho, $65,437; 5. Jason Lahr, Emporia, Kan., $61,568.

Team roping (heading): 1. Richard Eiguren, Jordan Valley, Ore., $97,390; 2. Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla., $67,485; 3. Frank Graves, Poplarville, Miss., $66,530; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., $62,626; 5. Kevin Stewart, Glen Rose, Texas, $52,734.

Team roping (heeling): 1. B.J. Campbell, Benton City, Wash., $97,390; 2. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $67,485; 3. Monty Joe Petska, Turlock, Calif., $65,560; 4. Caleb Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., $63,732; 5. Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles, Calif., $53,442.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tom Reeves, Eagle Butte, S.D., $144,389; 2. Glen O'Neill, Water Valley, Alberta, Canada, $141,955; 3. Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont., $92,273; 4. Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, $91,687; 5. Scott Johnston, $74,660.

Calf roping: 1. Cody Ohl, $111,715; 2. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $106,894; 3. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, $106,493; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., $96,393; 5. Trevor Brazile, $91,986.

Barrel racing: 1. Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., $79,395; 2. Charmayne James, Athens, Texas, $75,204; 3. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., $61,960; 4. Janet Stover, Rusk, Texas, $58,408; 5. Rachael Sproul, Arlee, Mont., $54,536.

Bull riding: 1. Rob Bell, Water Valley, Alberta, $81,099; 2. Lee Akin, Weatherford, Okla., $80,933; 3. Jesse Bail, $71,206; 4. Vince Stanton, Weiser, Idaho, $70,944; 5. Phillip Elkins, Granbury, Texas, $65,102.

Steer roping: 1. Guy Allen, Santa Anna, Texas, $79,429; 2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., $48,294; 3. Trevor Brazile, $42,688; 4. Cody Ohl, $32,233; 5. Buster Record Jr., Buffalo, Okla., $30,541.