PBR notebook: Colorado bull rider Jory Markiss leads after first round

Sixteen of the 35 bull riders made qualified rides in Friday night's opening round, including Kinta's Austin Meier, who scored 84.75 on Under Cover Brother. Ryan Dirteater of Hulbert was bucked by Woolley Bully.

Saturday's second round begins at 7 p.m. at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Oklahoma bull bests Markiss

Jory Markiss failed to earn $3,000 when he couldn't ride the bonus bull, Shepherd Hills Tested, after Friday's first round. The opportunity to ride the bonus bull for cash goes to the top rider of the round.

Shepherd Hills Tested is owned by the D&H Cattle Co., of Dickson, and was last season's American Bucking Bull Classic World Champion Bull, winning more than $300,000 as a 4-year-old bucking bull.

Low score but big applause

Douglas Duncan of Alvin, Texas, who is currently second in the PBR standings, had the lowest score of the qualified rides Friday night, but it was the most crowd pleasing.

Duncan scored a 68.25 on Paradise and was hanging on the side of the bull, upside down, when the eight-second buzzer sounded.

Home state cowboys are sparse

The only two Oklahoma cowboys in this year's PBR event in Oklahoma City are Austin Meier of Kinta and Ryan Dirteater of Hulbert.

In the past, as many as five Oklahoma cowboys have appeared in the event. But L.J. Jenkins of Porum will miss the Oklahoma City tour stop with an injury, Jody Newberry of Ada has retired, and Ryan McConnel of Coalgate isn't on the Built Ford Tough Series tour.