ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. J-B Mauney topped the field at the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque on Sunday, the 12th stop of the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series.  The cowboy from North Carolina turned in a four-round score of 351.5 points to win $39,150.

Mauney, the only rider to cover all four bulls, was pleased with the win.

It always feels good, especially having Tys name on this bull riding its always good to win that.

Mauney came into the short round in second place and rode Pure Smoke for 90.75 points winning the round to secure the title.

I cant complain, He said.  Everythings rolling like it should be.

Despite Mauneys win, he falls to second place in this weeks PBR World Standings 64 points behind Brazils Valdiron de Oliveira, who finished second in the average, but won Saturdays special PBR 15/15 match. Points in the 15/15 series do not count at the event; however, they are added to the world standings.

That 15/15 deal, they handed it to me pretty good, he said.  I got slammed pretty hard, but luckily I came back today and made two more good rides.

Mauney likes the way the season is going for him in 2012.

Im keeping it simple.  Im just having fun and taking the fight to the bulls, he said.  I dont even really look at the bulls.  I just go out and pick me a couple in the draft the ones that I know I can be a lot of points on and he bucks well and its been working out for me lately.

Next action for the PBR is this Kansas City Invitational March 31 and April 1.

Look out Bobby Mote is healthy again and riding like a champ.  The Culver cowboy placed in all three rounds at Rodeo Austin a Wrangler Million Dollar Gold Tour event to total 252 points over three rounds and win $8,379.  That moves him from ninth in the world standings to fifth with season earnings of $22,870.

I always get excited when I win a rodeo, Mote said, especially if its one of the big ones like Rodeo Austin because all the best guys are there. My winter started off a little slow, but its picked up at San Antonio and Austin. Ive got some momentum.

I feel like Im riding better than I have the last couple of years and Im healthy again. I got to the gym more this winter than usual and gained some strength. Im feeling pretty optimistic about the season.

Another Oregonian tapped into the money in Austin. Steer wrestler Shawn Greenfield turfed three steers in 11.8 seconds to move to third in this weeks world standings.

The Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo gets underway March 29-April 1 from Oklahoma City.

The Ram National Circuit Finals is a PRCA national championship event in which the very best competitors in the sport earn the right to compete for one of its largest purses, more than $525,000.

The event pits the top contestants from the 12 geographic regional ProRodeo circuits against one another for the prestigious national title.

Butch Thurman of Pendleton, Ore., has covered professional rodeo for 32 years.  His email address is butch@rodeosportsupdate.com