Etbauer rises to level of his foes

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000 | 12:21 p.m.

PRCA

Billy Etbauer is starting to make the 10th round of the National Finals Rodeo his personal slot machine.

With a strong 10th-round showing, Etbauer cashed in an 87-point ride on Sankey Rodeo Company's Surprise Party in the final round of the 1999 NFR to clinch his third world saddle bronc title in the city of perpetual slot machines, Las Vegas. It was the seventh time in 11 NFR qualifications that Etbauer has won the final round of the 10-day rodeo.

Etbauer of Edmond, Okla., also won world titles in 1992 and 1996. Before 1999, Etbauer won the 10th round in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997.

"I don't know," Etbauer said with a laugh, searching for a reason for his 10th-round success. "I just like pressure.

"The better the competition, the better you perform."

And Etbauer performed outstanding during the '99 NFR.

His clutch ride in the final round capped a stirring saddle bronc battle between him, five-time world champ Dan Mortensen of Manhattan, Mont., and Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alberta.

Mortensen and Etbauer have won all the saddle bronc riding gold buckles since 1992. Etbauer, 36, entered the '99 NFR trailing Hay by $17,816. He put himself into the title chase by sharing third place in the first round and placing fourth in the second.

However, Mortensen opened the NFR with victories in the first two rounds to turn up the heat. Etbauer maintained the pressure with an NFR-record 90-point ride aboard Skoal's Rio Bravo, owned by Beutler Brothers and Cervi Rodeo, in the third round.

"I'm not a judge of my riding," Etbauer said. "I just take what they give me, good or bad."