The heat is on with just 48 hours to go in the rodeo season, with four veterans—Travis Graves, Paul Eaves, Colter Todd and Kollin VonAhn—all vying for the final three spots on the heel side in 2024
Unofficially, the heading top 15 is already set, with Erich Rogers safe at No. 15 with $104,549.97.
We’ll start this bubble update with two-time World Champion VonAhn, who must place in the top three in Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s Cinch Governor’s Cup tonight to have a fighting chance and force any of the rest of these projections to matter.
Kollin VonAhn: $95,382.46
VonAhn, at 21st in the world, stayed alive going into the top eight at Sioux Falls with 13.8 on two, despite a leg in Round 2. That guarantees him $3,611 just for roping tonight, with the first paying $30,000, second paying $22,000 and third $15,000—all which would make the rest of the contenders have to hustle to keep their spots. His header, Andrew Ward, is already locked in.
Travis Graves: $103,050.66
Graves holds down the No. 15 spot in the PRCA world standings heading into the final eight in Sioux Falls. Making the final four at Sioux Falls should clinch his 15th NFR berth, but he’s also up at Stephenville, Texas, on Sunday just in case. Graves’ header, Luke Brown, is locked in.
Paul Eaves: $105,148.98
Eaves is currently in at No. 13, but Graves will automatically jump past him and Todd just by roping tonight with the $3,611 he gets guaranteed. Erich Rogers and Eaves only have San Bernardino left on Sunday, and the rodeo is filled with doctor releases because plenty of guys didn’t want to trek to California without a mathematical chance at a Finals qualification.
Colter Todd: $105,069
Derrick Begay is in, but Todd could be bumped if VonAhn finishes third or better in Sioux Falls. Begay and Todd have the most rodeos left of the bunch, with Poway left tonight and San Bernardino tomorrow. That rodeo though has at least eight doctors releases in the team roping, though, and only adds $5,000 a side, so it won’t give Todd more than $2,800 to help his chances.
