Zane Murphy, of Tolar, Texas, and Ryan Gorham, of Parma, Idaho, won the Cowboy Tack #14.5 at the 2026 Cinch USTRC National Finals with a 27.14 on four head, worth $43,200. 

For Murphy, 30, and Gorham, 20, the win came together fast — literally. 

“My partner cut me yesterday, last minute,” said Gorham, a Weatherford College athlete. “So I called Zane.” 

“The first time we roped, we won one,” Murphy added. “So I figured we’d try it again.” 

That last-minute call paid off. 

They opened with a 7.54, then came back with a 6.12 and 5.19 to take control of the roping. 

“We drew really good,” Murphy said. “That was a big part of it.” 

After the third steer, they knew where they stood. From there, it was about finishing the job. 

Their 8.29 in the short round held from the high-call position to lock it down. 

“Just trying to keep the ‘don’t mess up’ thoughts out of your mind,” Murphy said. “Just go catch.” 

Gorham had his own way of handling the pressure. 

“I try to tell myself every steer in the practice pen is for $300,000,” he said. “That way this one didn’t feel like as much.” 

The short round wasn’t perfect, but they found a way. 

Murphy didn’t get his head loop on as clean as he wanted, and Gorham had to kick through the corner to finish the run. It was a move he knows well. 

“I missed that imaginary $300,000 steer a lot,” Gorham said with a laugh. “You learn how to catch them eventually.” 

Murphy rode his 11-year-old gelding “Squirt,” by Hollywood White. 

“He doesn’t get hot,” Murphy said. “He’ll do whatever I need him to do.” 

Gorham was aboard “Hot Sauce,” a 9-year-old he bought after winning on him the year before. 

“He’s a warrior,” Gorham said. “Doesn’t matter the setup—he’s there.” 

The win carried a little extra weight, considering the partnership came together the night before the Cowboy Tack #14.5 Shootout. 

“This feels great,” Gorham said. “I’m just trying to hang onto it as long as I can.”