GREENVILLE, S.C. – As the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Greenville, South Carolina, got underway Friday night, Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) rode supreme, leading the contingent of 10 riders who converted inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena to win Round 1 of PBR Greenville.

Mitchell, who rides for the Austin Gamblers in the separate PBR Teams league, was tasked with Bossed Up (Blake Sharp) in the opening round.

Nodding with confidence, Mitchell burst from the chutes remaining in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete. Reaching the requisite 8, the charismatic Texan was awarded an unrivaled 87 points as the crowd erupted in raucous cheer.

The Round 1 win not only catapulted Mitchell to the top of the event leaderboard, but also netted him a crucial 28 Velocity Global points.

Michael Lane (Tazewell, Virginia) was second, garnering 18 Velocity Global points.

The veteran rider secured the runner-up finish in the opening round courtesy of an 86-point ride aboard Walk It Out (Davis Rodeo Ranch).

Cody McCandless (Derry, Pennsylvania) and Justin Ethridge (Buford, Georgia) tied for third compliments of matching 83.5-point efforts.

McCandless topped Part Time (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls), while Ethridge dominated Big Gulp (J Bar W).

Both McCandless and Ethridge earned 16.5 Velocity Global points.

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Thor Hoefer II (Priest River, Idaho).

Hoefer covered Gangster This (Blake Sharp) for 78 points, netting 7 points in the race for the 2024 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Championship.

South Carolina’s own Cameron Delano (Liberty, South Carolina) also posted a score in Round 1. He rode Busch Lightning (C Check Bucking Bulls) for 60 points. Concluding the opening round tenth, he also earned 2 Velocity Global points.

Action for PBR Greenville will conclude with Round 2 and the championship round on Saturday, Jan. 27. Action gets underway at 6:45 p.m. EST.

Photo courtesy of Gwinn Davis