February 2, 2008

Wolford captures back-to-back tournament wins, Murphy remains atop standings for Toughest Cowboy Ranch

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Coliseum provided the backdrop to the fourth stop on the quest for the Ranch. Tournament Four also marked the second round of elimination, as the field will be cut to eight when the competition concluded. Erik Wolford, who is coming off a big win in Glendale, Ariz., kept his winning streak alive and captured his second tournament win of the 2008 series in Greensboro, the home to Wrangler Jeans and Shirts.

Wolford, was matched against Logan Hodson and swept the match scoring 80-plus rides in the bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He added four wins to his series total and trails Bandy Murphy by one win.

“It feels good to have back-to-back wins versus back-to-back losses like the first two tournaments,” Wolford said. “I am not sure what was going on with my riding in the first two stops, but I am feeling like my old self now and hope to keep this winning streak going.”

Unfortunately for Hodson, he needed to pick-up some wins in Greensboro to stay alive in the competition. After coming up short on the night, he was eliminated along with Chad Eubank.

The Super Clean Eubank was matched against Red Creek Land’s Shane Proctor, who won the second tournament in Raleigh, N.C. Proctor had another good showing in Greensboro sweeping the match and finishing second to Wolford. Proctor is one win behind Murphy and Nelson Tsosie for the Ranch.

Murphy of Weatherford, Okla., continues to lead the way in the standings for the Toughest Cowboy Ranch with 13 wins and a total of 929 points. Murphy, who is sponsored by The Home Depot, was matched against Jared Green of Socorro, N.M., in Greensboro and finished with three wins to one.

Tsosie, of Farmington, N.M., was matched against 2006 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider B.J. Schumacher of Hillsboro, Wis. Tsosie swept the match and added four wins to his series total to remain second in the overall standings behind Murphy with 13 wins and 770 total points.

The top eight competitors will continue down the “Road to Columbus” with the next stop being at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pa.

Tournament 4 Results
Greensboro, N.C.

Match 1
Jared Green vs. Bandy Murphy – 1 win to 3 wins; 175 points to 236; Green (7), Murphy (13)

Match 2
Logan Hodson vs. Erik Wolford – 0 wins to 4 wins; 180 points to 250 points; Hodson (4), Wolford (12)

Match 3
Nelson Tsosie vs. B.J. Schumacher – 4 wins to 0 wins; 190 points to 127 points; Tsosie (13), Schumacher (8)

Match 4
Chad Eubank vs. Shane Proctor – 0 wins to 4 wins; 160 points to 236 points; Eubank (4), Proctor (12)

Match 5
Clovis Crane vs. Trey Broussard – 1 win to 3 wins; 140 points to 150 points; Crane (6), Broussard (7)

Non-televisied Alternate Match-up
Dusty Elkinton vs. Danny Ward – 4 wins to 0 wins; 223 points to 83 points

Greensboro winner: Erik Wolford
Touhest Cowboy Ranch leader: Bandy Murphy

Overall standings from Greensboro:
1. Erik Wolford; 2. Shane Proctor; 3. Nelson Tsosie; 4. Bandy Murphy; 5. Trey Broussard; 6. Jared Green; 7. Clovis Crane; 8. Logan Hodson; 9. Chad Eubank; 10. B.J. Schumacher.

Overall standings after Greensboro (standings based on wins and then total points):
1. Bandy Murphy, 13 wins, 929 total points; 2. Nelson Tsosie, 13 wins, 770 total points; 3. Shane Proctor, 12 wins, 906 total points; 4. Erik Wolford, 12 wins, 878 total points; 5. B.J. Schumacher, 8 wins, 731 total points; 6. Trey Broussard, 7 wins, 726 total points; 7.  Jared Green, 7 wins, 700 total points; 8. Clovis Crane, 5 wins, 754 total points; 9. Chad Eubank, 4 wins, 704 total points; 10. Logan Hodson, 4 wins, 674 total points.
*Note: Eubank and Hodson eliminated