Lee Graves earned his second consecutive victory during the fifth round at the National Finals Rodeo that allowed him to take over first place in every key steer wrestling category on Monday.
Graves of Calgary, Alberta, extended his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings lead with his win, finishing in 3.5 seconds.
Graves is in first place with $165,795 in total earnings. Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., is second with $148,214. Jake Rinehart of Highmore, S.D., is third with $142,511 followed by Curtis Cassidy of Canada with $118,604.
"I had a setback in round two; I had a back injury that scared me pretty bad," Graves said. "I really didn't think I'd be able to compete at my 100 percent best, but I've turned it around the last couple days, spent a lot of time icing and stretching, and we're back on track."
In bareback riding, Jared Smith of Cross Plains, Texas and Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., tied for first place on Citation and Delta Ship, respectively, and posted the highest scores at this year's NFR.
Clint Cannon of Waller, Texas, who set a PRCA record in 2009 for most regular-season money won in any event with $233,504, did not place among the top six for a fourth straight round, but he continues to lead the PRCA World Standings with $235,899.
Kaycee Feild of Elk Ridge, Utah, who continues to lead the aggregate score race with 427 points on five head, didn't place among the top six in the fifth round.
In team roping, header Riley Minor and heeler Brady Minor, who are brothers from Ellensburg, Wash., placed first during round five.
"It's pretty easy," Brady Minor said. "We can talk to each other a lot easier than if we were roping with anybody else. If one of us misses for the other, we know that they are trying as hard as they can. It's easier for me than roping with anybody else."
Heeler Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev., who didn't record a time during round five, stayed in the lead with $121,042, and header Luke Brown of Rock Hill, S.C., who didn't place among the top six, leads with $133,086.
In tie-down roping, six-time world champion Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, placed first for his second straight round. He recorded a time of 7.1 and tied for first place with Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas.
In saddle bronc riding, J.J. Elshere of Quinn, S.D., won the fifth round and registered his second NFR win with an 88 on Kool Toddy.
PRCA standings leader Jesse Kruse of Great Falls, Mont., placed fifth with an 85 on Car Power.