Gold Country Pro Rodeo brings packed weekend of action to Auburn

The Gold Country Pro Rodeo returned to McCann Stadium at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn last weekend, bringing three nights of PRCA action from May 15-17. Fans packed the stands to watch some of the top rodeo athletes in the region compete in events ranging from bull riding and bareback riding to team roping and steer wrestling. Brushton Minton earned the all-around cowboy title after placing in the tie-down roping and team roping competition. Minton finished second in tie-down roping with an 8.3-second run, just behind Quint Bell, who won the event at 8.2 seconds. In bareback riding, Jacob Lees delivered the top score of the weekend with an 87.5-point ride aboard Rosser Rodeo's Right On Q. Clayton Biglow followed with 86 points, while R.C. Landingham placed third. Bull riding produced one of the biggest highlights of the rodeo as Jeter Lawrence posted an 86.5-point ride on Rosser Rodeo's Avatar to take first place. Lukasey Morris finished second with 84.5 points and Eric Novoa took third at 81 points. Only five riders recorded qualified rides during the competition. Matt Cicisly won the saddle bronc riding title with an 84-point ride aboard Flying U Rodeo's What The Hawk. Lefty Holman and Hank Whitaker tied for second with 81 points. Steer wrestling came down to fractions of a second as Zane George captured the event with a 4.2-second run. Stan Branco followed at 4.6 seconds, while Dillon Hushour finished third with a 5-second run. In team roping, Tanner James and Trey White turned in the fastest run of the weekend at 5.2 seconds. Joseph McCurley and Kevin Hill finished at 5.4 seconds. Complete results for the barrel racing and breakaway roping events were not available at the time of publication.