JACKSONVILLE – Delivering a flawless 2-for-2 performance, Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) dominated the Jacksonville Invitational to win the season-launch PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) Saturday night at Jacksonville's VyStar Veteran's Memorial Arena.
Barbosa began the event inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena with an 85.5-point ride aboard Midnight Mystery (Halpain Bucking Bulls), tied for the second-best score.
The Brazilian again made the 8 in the championship round, this time for an 84-point score atop Slick Willy (5S Bucking Bulls/Richardson Land & Cattle Co.).
For his efforts, Barbosa collected $6,200 and 36 world points, rising to No. 14 in the world.
Barbosa additionally earned a berth to the elite Unleash The Beast, set to return to PBR’s premier series in Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 18-19 at SNHU Arena.
Romildo Rodrigues (Itatiba, Brazil) was second, netting $4,800 and 27 world points.
After covering Slim Shady (Topline Steel Buildings/Barrett Bucking Stock) for 82 points in Round 1, he topped the championship round with an 85.5-point effort aboard Slapping Bo (CBT 2).
Rodrigues is now No. 20 in the world.
As the final rider to go a perfect 2-for-2, Marcus Mast (Middlebury, Indiana) was third.
In Round 1 he rode The Kraken (Dakota Buckers/Burkhardt) for 82 points, followed by an 84.5-point trip on Big Luck (Melton Bull Co.).
The Indiana man left the Sunshine State event with $3,100 and 14 world points.
Fourth was Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina). His performance was headlined by a Round 1 win courtesy of his 86-point ride atop Roll of the Dice (Topline Steel Buildings/Barrett Bucking Stock).
Vastbinder collected $2,600 and 13 world points.
Cody Dollins (Waco, Texas) and Brady Sims (Holt, Missouri) tied for fifth, both earning $1,300 and 6.5 world points.
Both recording their 85.5-point rides in Round 1, Dollins rode Cracker (Silent 7/Hilton Bull Co.) while Sims topped Undertow (Rickey West Bucking Bulls).