Friday, June 13, 2003 | 9:13 a.m.
When last seen in Las Vegas, Will Lowe left with a new bride and more than $70,000 just days before his 20th birthday on Christmas Eve.
His dynamic performance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center made him a crowd favorite and provided the cap to a rookie of the year campaign.
As his plane from Denver touched down at McCarran International Airport on Wednesday night, Lowe hit a high when he saw the bright lights.
"You could see the Strip, and I was just, 'Hell, yeah!' " he said. "I was ready to come back. Oh, I love this town."
He continued to show that Thursday night by finishing second, with an 85-point ride atop Pot of Gold, in the first round of the ProRodeo Winter Tour Finale at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
That earned Lowe a $2,937.50 check. Pete Hawkins netted $3,916.67 when his 87, aboard Smokeless Vanderbilt, stood as the finest of the dozen bareback rides.
The second round takes place tonight. The top eight riders advance to Saturday night's semifinals, then the top four will compete in the finals the same evening.
With another solid run tonight, Lowe will have to bypass the Junior College Finals on Saturday night in Caspar, Wyo., where he competed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for Vernon (Texas) Regional Junior College.
The semifinals of the ProRodeo Finale begin Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Garden Arena, while the JC Finals start at 7:15 p.m. (CST).
"I'll probably end up staying here," Lowe said. "If something happens here (tonight), where I don't make it back Saturday, I'll go back to Wyoming. But, more than likely, I'm planning on doing well here. I love Las Vegas."
A 5-foot-3, 130-pound cowboy with Gumby-like resiliency, Lowe earned $149,690 in his debut season of 2002. Nearly half, $72,802, came from the splash he made at the NFR.
He was one of only six riders to stay on top for all 10 of his rides, and he averaged 83 points. Jason Jeter, the victor, averaged 83.9 points. Cody Jessee, who placed, averaged 83.5.
At what he called a classy arrangement at Treasure Island, Lowe married the former Tiffani Burton during his splendid run at the Mack.
Fitting his practical upbringing in Kansas, the Kansas State football fan bought a house in Canyon, Texas, just south of Amarillo, with a chunk of his winnings. He also purchased a used white Mitsubishi car, because it gets better mileage than his Dodge truck.
He returned to Las Vegas having made $29,595 this season, which included winning the RodeoHouston.
Lowe also completed the 16 hours he needed for his Associate of Arts degree in general studies at Vernon, for whom he also rode on the JC circuit.
He plans to transfer his units to West Texas A&M University, in Canyon. But he will attend classes only on a part-time basis in the fall, so the lighter class load and no college riding should help him concentrate on his professional career.
"It was just too tough last year," Lowe said. "I had 16 hours this past semester, and 17 last fall. I took 10 tests the day before I left to come to the NFR. It was just difficult, juggling the school, and the college and pro rodeos."
Another young buck, 19-year-old Tom McFarland of Arizona, had a sterling winter season, finishing atop the point standings with 110.75. Lowe ended in second, with 90.
However, Lowe denied that bareback riding has swiftly become a young man's game. He highlighted Mark Gomes (33) and Larry Sandvick (37), who tied for fourth and eighth, respectively, Thursday.
Lowe stood beside Clint Corey, 41, in the chutes after Corey took sixth with an 81.
"And he knew exactly what he'd done, and he'll fix it," Lowe said. "He'll come out (tonight), and I know he'll fix what he did wrong. Experience makes up for the youth. Those guys are healthy, and they know what they're doing.
"No, it's not necessarily a young man's event. I really hope I can last as long as Clint. He's an amazing rider. One of the best."
So far, success has been wonderfully soothing for all the bruises, and general soreness, that Lowe has sustained.
"You just push it out of your mind and your ride for those eight seconds, and it doesn't hurt," he said. "And you can put up with the rest of it. I'm just glad to be back here, and I hope I get to come back for many, many years."
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