WHEELING, West Virginia – Neil Holmes took the first round of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) BlueDEF Tour (BDT) at WesBanco Arena on Friday night. 

Holmes rode Slim Ice (Creekbend Bucking Bulls/Denny Thorsell) for 86.5 points to take the event lead.

Jess Lockwood and Kade Alberty tied for second with 83.5 points. Lockwood rode Up North (Creekbend Bucking Bulls/Denny Thorsell), while Alberty rode Ricky (Creekbend Bucking Bulls/Denny Thorsell). Dave Mason captured fourth on the night by riding Tex-lo (Buckin’ B Cattle Company) for 82 points.  

Sean Willingham and Jay Miller rounded out the Top 6 with scores of 80.5 points. Willingham rode Blue Hurricane (Creekbend Bucking Bulls/Denny Thorsell), while Miller took on Mishap (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) in the first round.

The BlueDEF Tour, presented by Real Time Pain Relief, returns to WesBanco Arena on Saturday night. The action will start at 7 p.m. ET with doors opening at 6 p.m.

The BlueDEF Finals will take place at South Point Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 29-31, leading into the PBR 2016 Built Ford Tough World Finals. The winner of the BlueDEF Finals, the second- and third-place finishers, and the top international performer, along with the 2016 BlueDEF Tour Champion, will each qualify to compete at the PBR World Finals.

Professional Bull Riders BlueDEF Round 1 Event Results:
March 18- Wheeling, West Virginia

Round 1 (Round 1-Round 2-Total Ride Score-Points-Earnings)

1. Neil Holmes, 86.5-0-86.5-$800
T-2. Jess Lockwood, 83.5-0-83.5-$500
    Kade Alberty, 83.5-0-83.5-$500
4. Dave Mason, 82-0-82-$200
T-5. Sean Willingham, 80.5-0-80.5-$0
    Jay Miller, 80.5-0-80.5-$0