Etbauer, Whitfield Take Top
Honors At Phoenix Showdown

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The 1997 Original Coors Rodeo Showdown in Phoenix, was just that — a showdown. Eighty top PRCA athletes qualified for the Showdown, the season finale of the $1 million Original Coors Chute Out Series. After three rounds of competition, the field was trimmed to 48 athletes who advanced to the Showdown’s semifinal round.

When the curtain closed on final-round action, some familiar faces to both the Showdown and the National Finals Rodeo had captured this year’s titles in their events. Among the familiar were reigning world champions Fred Whitfield and Billy Etbauer.

Whitfield, a three-time world champion calf roper from Hockley, Texas, wowed final-round spectators with a lightning-quick 7.5-second run to claim his third Showdown title. He edged out his closest competitor by eight-tenths of a second to take home $6500.

Etbauer, a two-time world champion saddle bronc rider and last year’s Showdown saddle bronc riding champion, also delivered a final round winning performance when he topped Sankey Rodeo’s bronc Wild Card for 86 points. The 34-year-old bronc rider earned $7250.

In PRCA’s all-around competition, Dan Mortensen, Manhattan, Mont., leads the pack with $148,420 in earnings. He is followed by Cody Ohl, Orchard, Texas, with $111,656; Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas, $86,536; Rope Myers, Van, Texas, $76,413; and Chad Hagan, Leesville, La., $76,079.

Standings by event:

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Dan Mortensen, $140,027; 2. Robert Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 92,133; 3. Billy Etbauer, Ree Heights, S.D., $83,162; 4. Ryan Mapston, Arlee, Mont., $82,844; 5. Jess Martin, Dillon, Mont., $69,770.

Bareback riding: 1. Denny McLanahan, Canadian, Texas, $86,150; 2. Larry Sandvick, Kaycee, Wyo., $67,674; 3. Deb Greenough, Red Lodge, Mont., $62,709; 4. Jeffrey Collins, Wister, Okla., $61,853; 5. Marvin Garrett, Belle Fourche, S.D., $60,403.

Bull riding: 1. Wayde Joyal, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, $63,325; 2. Mike White, Lake Charles, La., $58,106; 3. Kelly Armstrong, Seven Person, Alberta, $56,882; 4. Scott Mendes, Weatherford, Texas, $54,462; 5. Johnny Chavez, Bosque, N.M., $53,899.

Calf roping: 1. Cody Ohl, $97,987; 2. Stran Smith, Tell, Texas, $91,551; 3. Jeff Chapman, Athens, Texas, $65,758; 4. Ricky Hyde, Conway, Ark., $62,807; 5. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, $62,653.

Steer wrestling: 1. Rope Myers, $69,201; 2. Frank Davis, Blackwell, Texas, $67,155; 3. Brad Gleason, Ennis, Mont., $59,657; 4. Byron Walker, Ennis, Texas, $58,479; 5. Chad Hagan, $55,595.

Team roping (heading): 1. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., $62,147; 2. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas, $58,535; 3. Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla., $54,704; 4. Bobby Hurley, Ceres, Calif., $46,950; 5. Walt Rodman, Galt, Calif., $44,328.

Team roping (heeling): 1. Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., $62,147; 2. Steve Northcott, Odessa, Texas, $58,535; 3. Rick Skelton, Llano, Texas, $52,247; 4. Cody Cowden, Merced, Calif., $46,950; 5. Kyle Lockett, Ivanhoe, Calif., $43,589.

Steer roping: 1. Guy Allen, Lovington, N.M., $60,399; 2. Jim Davis, Abilene, Texas, $40,390; 3. Buster Record Jr., Buffalo, Okla., $35,785; 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, $29,564; 5. Todd Casebolt, Henrietta, Texas, $26,135.

Barrel racing: 1. Sherry Cervi, Midland, Texas, $99,365; 2. Kristie Peterson, Elbert, Colo., $96,748; 3. Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, $82,984; 4. Fallon Taylor, Ponder, Texas, $56,378; 5. Cheyenne Wimberely, Stephenville, Texas, $46,947.