PUEBLO, Colo. – Chase Dougherty took another step forward in his pursuit of the 2021 PBR Rookie of the Year title by riding Liston for 89.5 points and a third-place finish in Round 1 of the PBR Bad Boy Mowers Mowdown Saturday night in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dougherty picked up 17 world points to increase his lead to 71 points on No. 2 Colten Fritzlan, who remains out of competition with a shoulder injury.

The 23-year-old is now a perfect 2-for-2 against Liston in his career after previously riding the D&H Cattle Company bovine for 89.25 points in Nampa, Idaho, earlier this season.

“I was just riding, but it felt pretty dang good,” Dougherty told Kate Harrison on CBS Sports Network. “Today, he was a little different and had a little more air to him. He still feels good. He is a big, strong bull, and those really fit my style.”

Dougherty was one of three rookies to record a qualified ride among the nine rides in Round 1. Other rookies hitting the 8-second mark were Austin Richardson (88.75 points on Copperpoint Swagger) and Marcelo Procopio Pereira (83.75 points on Pico).

Not only did Dougherty help his case in the rookie race, but the 2018 Wrangler National Finals bull riding event average winner also moved up to No. 8 in the world standings.

Dougherty, though, is still 1,156 points behind world leader Jose Vitor Leme as the 2020 World Champion continued his push toward a second consecutive world title with a second-place finish in Round 1.

Dougherty will attempt to win his first premier series event Sunday when the Bad Boy Mowers Mowdown concludes at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

Dougherty has drawn Old Time Religion (2-0, UTB) for Round 2.

Speaking of rookies, 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel is doubtful for Round 2 after spraining his left wrist (riding hand) during Round 1, according to Dr. Tandy Freeman. Kasel was unable to compete in the 15/15 Bucking Battle because of the injury.

Professional Bull Riders - PBR BAD BOY MOWERS MOWDOWN
Little Rock, AR, 2021 - Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Claudio Montanha Jr., 90.5-0-0-90.50-29 Points.
2. Jose Vitor Leme, 89.75-0-0-89.75-18 Points.
3. Chase Dougherty, 89.5-0-0-89.50-17 Points.
4. Austin Richardson, 88.75-0-0-88.75-16 Points.
5. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 88.25-0-0-88.25-15 Points.
6. João Henrique Lucas, 87.75-0-0-87.75-14 Points.
7. Kaique Pacheco, 87-0-0-87.00-12.5 Points.
(tie). Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 87-0-0-87.00-12.5 Points.
9. Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 83.75-0-0-83.75-11 Points.
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00
Boudreaux Campbell, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0.00
Junior Patrik Souza, 0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Kasel, 0-0-0-0.00
Jesse Petri, 0-0-0-0.00
Cole Melancon, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Alex Cerqueira, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0.00
Thiago Salgado, 0-0-0-0.00
Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0-0.00
Lucas Divino, 0-0-0-0.00
Manoelito de Souza Junior, 0-0-0-0.00
Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0.00

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media