LAS VEGAS (AP) Nick Guy of Sparta, Wisconsin, moved up from fourth to first in the steer wrestling world standings by placing first in 3.6 seconds during round one on Thursday at the National Finals Rodeo.
Guy, who last qualified for the NFR in 2010, earned $19,002 to boost his earnings to $96,757.
''It feels good to get a nice paycheck in round one,'' Guy said. ''We talked about winning round one the whole way out here to Las Vegas. I'm from Wisconsin. People in my hometown . they don't know I rodeo.
''It's not a rodeo part of the country and that's why when I win it makes me feel good about where I'm from. I'm going to sleep well tonight, and I (plan) to keep doing exactly what I did tonight for the rest of the NFR.''
Casey Martin of Sulphur, Louisiana, moved from third to second in the standings with $93,457 by tying for second place in 3.7 with four-time world champion Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, California. Trevor Knowles of Mount Vernon, Oregon, entered the NFR first in the world standings with $91,804 but now is third after coming in 15th and last in 20.70.
In bareback riding, Kaycee Feild of Spanish Fork, Utah, moved closer toward winning his fourth consecutive world title by placing first in the opening round with an 84.5 on Cactus Juice.
Feild entered the NFR in first in the world standings and increased his earnings to $191,386. Steven Peebles of Redmond, Oregon remained far behind in second after placing 12th with a 78.5 on Flashcard Champion.
Four-time world champion Bobby Mote of Culver, Oregon, tied for 13th with a 77.5 on Clownin Around. He is just $39,458 away from becoming the sixth individual to earn $1 million in NFR competition.
In team roping, header Turtle Powell of Stephenville, Texas, and heeler Dakota Kirchenschlager of Morgan Mill, Texas, placed first in a record opening-round time of 4.00 (the previous mark of 4.10 was held by two different teams).
Header Clay Tryan of Billings, Montana, and heeler Jade Corkill, of Fallon, Nevada, finished third in 4.7 and remained in first in the world standings. Tryan and Corkill, the defending world champions, each have earned $121,521 in 2014.
Header Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, and heeler Travis Graves of Jay, Oklahoma, are second in the standings with $106,303 each after finishing fifth in 5.20 for round one.
In saddle bronc riding, Cort Scheer of Elsmere, Nebraska, won the first round with an 87 on Short Stop. The victory allowed Scheer to move up from third in the standings to second with $121,416. Taos Muncy of Corona, New Mexico, who tied for third with an 80.5 on Paint Chip, remains first in the standings with $136,533.
Defending world champion Chad Ferley of Oelrichs, South Dakota, didn't record a score.
In tie-down roping, NFR rookie Marty Yates of Stephenville, Texas, took first place in a time of 7.4 and is now fourth in the world standings with $102,190.
''This is an unbelievable feeling,'' Yates said. ''I've worked my whole life to get right here where I am. Words can't explain what I'm feeling right now. It's amazing and awesome. My first NFR . to come out winning round one gives me a lot more confidence for the remaining nine rounds.''
Two-time world champion Tuf Cooper of Decatur, Texas, is first in the world standings with $153,822 despite not placing among the top six in round one with a time of 8.6.
In barrel racing, Fallon Taylor of Whitesboro, Texas, moved closer to first place in the world standings by winning round one in a time of 14.09.
Taylor is second in the standings with $150,474 and trails only Kaley Bass of Kissimmee, Florida, who didn't place among the top six. Bass has earned $155,280 in 2014.
Defending world champion Sherry Cervi of Marana, Arizona, placed fifth in a time of 14.35.
In bull riding, NFR rookie Joe Frost of Randlett, Utah, won the first round with a score of 85.5 on Rattler.
Four-time world champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas, finished fourth with a score of 75 on Tea Time.
In all-around, defending world champion Brazile, who has won the last eight and 11 of the last 12 world all-around titles, extended his lead over runner-up Tuf Cooper of Decatur, Texas, during round one. Brazile has earned $323,041 in 2014 compared to $158,537 for Cooper.
