NFR notebook: Billy Etbauer on track for fourth title

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000 | 10:30 a.m.

Billy Etbauer of Edmond, Okla., continued his quest for his fourth saddle bronc world championship with a second-place finish in Tuesday's National Finals Rodeo fifth go-round at the Thomas & Mack.

Robert Etbauer won the fifth go-round with a score of 86 on Skoals Big Sky and moved into a tie for the NFR average lead with Ryan Mapston. Billy Etbauer and T.C. Holloway tied for second with 85s.

Billy Etbauer's $9,108.69 payday allowed him to move to within $583 of Scott Johnston in the world standings. Johnston, who brought a $26,000 lead into the NFR, failed to cash Tuesday for the fourth straight round.

Billy Etbauer pushed his NFR earnings to more than $39,000 and has $151,991.59 for the year. Johnston, who has earned $13,133 this week, leads the world standings with $152,575.06.

Johnston continues to hold a $21,000 lead over Trevor Brazile in the all-around standings, but Joe Beaver moved from fifth to third with his $13,345 round on Tuesday. Beaver trails Johnston by $24,615 in the all-around standings.

Tuesday night's other go-round winners:

Reigning world champion Lan Lajeunesse won his first bareback riding go-round of the NFR with an 89 on Kesler Rodeo's Order Up. Darren Clarke, Davey Shields and Deb Greenough tied for second with 84s.

Rope Myers won his first steer wrestling go-round in a time of 3.70 seconds. Teddy Johnson was second and vaulted into the lead in the world standings and average leader Frank Thompson was third.

Speed Williams and Rich Skelton shared the team roping go-round with Lance Brooks and Dugan Kelly with identical times of 4.90 seconds. Joe Beaver and Bret Gould were third in 5 seconds flat.

Average leader Brent Lewis won the calf roping go-round with a time of 8 seconds. Reigning all-around and calf roping champion Fred Whitfield was second in 9 seconds and Herbert Theriot was third in 9.10 seconds.

Whitfield took over the lead from Blair Burk in the world standings with his $10,379.66 payday.

Robey Condra won the bull riding go-round with a score of 88 on Big Bend's El Smacko. Shane Drury and Phillip Elkins tied for second with 84s.

Rob Bell tied for fourth and closed to within $774 of Cody Hancock, the average leader, in the world standings.

Tona Wright won her first barrel racing go-round of the NFR with a time of 13.83. Jamie Richards and Marlene McRae tied for second in 13.93.

John Brogan won the second round of the Wrangler Bullfight Tour Finals with a score of 89. Greg Rumohr was second and Mike Matt, who won Monday's opening round, was third.

Voting continues through tonight's sixth go-round. More than 50,000 ballots will be sent via a messenger service to a Denver accounting firm to be appropriately tabulated and the presentation will take place during Sunday's closing ceremony.