Mortensen wins fifth saddle bronc world championship

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

Mortensen, of Manhattan, Mont., had an 83-point ride on Wolf Creek Skoal.

"I feel like I'm riding pretty good right now," said Mortensen, last year's all-around champion. "There's so much pressure here that you rarely see guys ride as good as they did all year long."

Mortensen, who has won three go-rounds and placed in six of seven, leads second-place Tom Reeves of Eagle Butte, S.D., by $79,219. The most Reeves can win in the final three go-rounds and the NFR average is $74,482.

"I'm way more relaxed this year," said Mortensen, who clinched the all-around on the final day of last year's NFR. "Even on those first nights when I didn't do so well. That all-around is a big deal."

Ty Murray of Stephenville, Texas, leads the all-around with $200,043. Herbert Theriot of Poplarville, Miss., is second with $162,572. Both are competing in two events in the NFR.

In bareback, Mark Gomes also won for the third time in the last four nights. Gomes, of Hutchinson, Kan., scored a 78 to surpass the $100,000 mark in season earnings. He has won $51,164 in the NFR. Eric Swensen of Bonham, Texas, was second at 77.

"I was excited when I'd won $30,000 and now I've won $51,000," Gomes said. "If I walk out without another buck, I'll walk out of here smiling."

In bull riding, Aaron Semas of Auburn, Calif., won the round with an 87. Brian Herman of Victoria, Texas, was second at 86, and Tony Mendes of Reno, Nev., third at 85.

Cody Ohl of Stephenville, Texas, and Blair Burk of Durant, Okla., tied for first in calf roping with 7.4-second runs. Jeff Chapman of Athens, Texas, was third in 7.9 seconds.

In steer wrestling, Tim Segelke of Snyder, Colo., won the round with a 3.4-second run. Ote Berry of Checotah, Okla., was second in 3.7 seconds, and Byron Walker of Ennis, Texas, was third in 4.0 seconds.

Bret Boatright of Mulhall, Okla., and Kory Koontz of Sudan, Texas, tied for first in team roping at 4.9 seconds with Daniel Green of Oakdale, Calif., and Allen Bach of Valley Home, Calif.

In barrel racing, Sherri Cervi of Midland, Texas, and Janet Stover of Jacksonville, Texas, tied for first with 13.94-second runs.