Sophomore BFTS rider Kolbaba picks up win at PBR’s Express Employment Professionals Invitational

Seals victory with 92-point ride on defending PBR World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Bruiser

After 11 riders were tossed in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round it came down to sophomore rider 20-year-old Derek Kolbaba, and he delivered. Capping a career performance and winning the PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Express Employment Professionals Invitational Sunday afternoon in Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Kolbaba went 3-for-3 in Oklahoma City and sealed his performance with a monster 92-point ride on the 2016 reigning PBR World Champion Bull, SweetPro’s Bruiser (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.). The ride was the highest score of Kolbaba’s Built Ford Tough Series career and ended Bruiser’s 14 consecutive BFTS buckoff streak that dated back to January of last year in Oklahoma City.

Kolbaba earned 565 total world points over the weekend and moves up to third place in the world standings. He also earned $45,078.97 over the weekend. Kolbaba now trails current world leader, and best friend, Jess Lockwood by 275 points.

Sunday afternoon’s pen of bulls was among the rankest the riders have faced so far this season with three turning in bull scores of 45 points or higher. Pearl Harbor (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/H&C Bucking Bulls) took home top bull honors after a 46.25-point performance during his 3.65 second buckoff of Rubens Barbosa.

2015 World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Long John (D&H Cattle. Co) earned a 45.75-point bull score for his 1.84 second tossing of Mason Lowe in the championship round, while Bruiser combined with Kolbaba to the tune of a 45.5-point bull score.

2016 PBR Brazil Champion Dener Barbosa finished in second place in Oklahoma City. Barbosa went 2-for-3 over the weekend and rode VJV Nailed (Vold Rodeo/Prescott/J.A.R.S. Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen) for 85.5 points to finish second in Round 2. He went on to be bucked off by Gangster’s Wildside (Riley/Teague/Beckett/Lackey/Lester) in 5.33 seconds in the championship round. Barbosa earned 300 points toward the world standings and $16,198.97 for his career-best finish at a BFTS event so far.  .

Lowe came in third place Sunday afternoon. He covered Get Smoked (Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team) for 87.5 points in Saturday night’s Round 1 but was bucked off Sunday by Coon Eyes (Flying S Bucking Bulls) in Round 2 and Long John in the championship round. Lowe picked up 280 points toward the world standings as well as a $12,022.31 paycheck.

Stormy Wing and Nevada Newman tied for fourth place in Oklahoma City. Newman rode Gangster Can Do (01 Cattle Co./Robbie Schroeder) for 86 points to win Round 2 while Wing’s 86.25-point ride on Colorado Chrome (Owens/Wyatt) from Saturday’s Round 1 held up. The pair both earned 165 points toward the world standings. Newman took home $8,408.97 while Wing earned $7,442.31.

Dakota Buttar rounded out the Top 6, he rode Margy Time (D&H Cattle Co.) for 85.25 points on his way to 95 world points and a $5,078.97 payday. ~ PBR