First PBR series win for Triplett

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Matt Triplett of Columbia Falls won his first Professional Bull Riders series event on Sunday at the Express Employment Professionals Invitational at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Triplett dominated the first three rounds, which offset his not scoring in the championship go on the final day when he was bucked off Cooper Tires Brown Sugar.

He earned $38,220 as the event winner.

Triplett totaled 615 points in Oklahoma, which now leaves him just 25 behind Silvano Alves, who currently leads the PBR world standings. Alves is from Pilar Do Sul, Brazil.

Triplett has $63,036.67 in earnings to date to Alves’ $68,771.67.

Triplett tied Sean Willingham, of Summerville, Georgia, for fourth with an 87 on Hou’s Back in the third round earlier on Sunday.

He had the top go Saturday in Round 2 with a 90-point ride on American Sniper. That marked his second 90-point score of the season and the fourth of his PBR career.

Triplett and 2013 PBR world champion J.B. Mauney, of Mooresville, North Carolina, tied for the top score Friday in the first session, both with 89s. Triplett rode Spin Machine.

In the championship round, which had 15 riders, only Mauney posted a score, an 86.25 on Savage.

Mauney was second behind Triplett with 470 points in the final standings. Nathan Schaper, last year’s winner here, was third with 180. Schaper is from Grassy Butte, North Dakota.

Up next is a PRB event in Sacramento, California, on Friday and Saturday.

Triplett is enjoying a sensational January on the circuit. In Chicago, he finished second, was seventh in Baltimore and 12th in New York.