PBR Lockwood and Lowe take Round 1 in New York City

The 2017 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) season opened with a bang as young guns 2016 Rookie of the Year Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) along with Mason Lowe (Exeter, Missouri) split the victory in Round 1 of the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden Friday night at Madison Square Garden. 

Lockwood and Lowe secured the victory with a pair of 87.75-point scores. Lockwood rode Dennis The Menace (Rocking I Rodeo Co.) while Lowe covered Slick Rick (Rocking I Rodeo Co.).

The pair both earned 100 points toward the PBR World Standings for the effort.

Matt Triplett (Columbia Falls, Montana) recorded the first qualified ride of the 2017 season when the current No. 1 rider in the world covered Little Red Jacket (J.A.R.S. Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen) for 87 points. The ride secured a third place finish for Triplett in Round 1, earning him 60 points toward the world standings.

Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) and Silvano Alves (Pilar Do Sul, Brazil) tied for fourth place in New York, each turning in a pair of 86.5-point rides on Friday night.

Kolbaba rode Grave Digger (Viducic Bucking Bulls) earlier in the night, while Alves covered Machinery Auctioneer’s Little Joe (Rocking I Rodeo Co.). Kolbaba and Alves each picked up 45 points toward the world standings with the finish.

2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) rounded out the Top 5 after his 86.25-point trip aboard Dirty Vegas (Viducic Bucking Bulls). Lee earned 20 points toward the world standings for the effort.

The Top 35 bull riders in the world will return to the “World’s Most Famous Arena” Saturday night for Round 2 of the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden. Each rider will face another bull as they work to put themselves in good position for Championship Sunday. ~ PBR