Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, placed first in tie-down roping with a time of 7.6 seconds in the first round of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

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NFR rookie DeMoss picks up win in saddle bronc

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LAS VEGAS — Wade Sumpter took the world lead in steer wrestling, and Cody DeMoss moved into the top spot in saddle bronc with victories Thursday night in the first of the 10-round Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

In steer wrestling, Sumpter, from Fowler, Colo., won with a time of 3.5 seconds to move from fifth to first in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association standings with $109,677.

Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., entered the NFR as the leader with $106,464, but he didn't register a time during the first round and fell to third.

"You've always got a shot here," Sumpter said. "They give away so much money and you never know what's going to happen. You can come from a long way behind and win lots of money."

In saddle bronc, DeMoss, from Heflin, La., took the lead with an 85-point ride on Spring Blues. DeMoss moved up from third to first in the standings with $127,474, while previous leader Cody Wright of Milford, Utah, was bucked off Spring Planting in 4.5 seconds and fell to second with $120,196.

"Usually, we just try to struggle through, and today that was just a really good horse," DeMoss said. "I'm just tickled pink. I'm ready to go now."

In bareback riding, Jason Jeter of Mansfield, Texas, won with 86.5 points on Coconut Roll. Jeter returns to the NFR after having his five-year streak broken in 2006.

"I've never done it (placed first during the opening round of the NFR) before," Jeter said. "I hope I win the second round, too, because I've never won that before, either. I think that every round I've ever won has been the third round."

In bull riding, J.W. Harris of May, Texas, placed first with a score of 89 on Lights Out. Standings leader and defending champion B.J. Schumacher of Hillsboro, Wis., lasted 7.1 seconds on Savage Shaker and didn't score during the first round. He remained the season leader with $158,752.

In tie-down roping, Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, placed first with a time of 7.6. Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, held the season lead with $132,539, but he didn't place with a time of 13.9 in the opening round. Brazile is trying to become the first competitor since Roy Cooper in 1983 to win four gold buckles. He has already won the steer roping world championship, leads both the tie-down roping and all-around standings, and entered the NFR 10th in team roping.

In team roping, Travis Tryan of Billings, Mont., and Michael Jones of Stephenville, Texas, won in 4.3 seconds. In barrel racing, Jill Moody of Letcher, S.D., placed first in 14.0, with standings leader Brittany Pozzi-Pharr of Victoria, Texas, close behind in second with a time of 14.01.

The local pair of Marana's Colter Todd and Tucson's Cesar de la Cruz had a no time in their team-roping run.