Proctor in the national finals

Shane Proctor stands in fifth place at the National Finals Rodeo in the Las Vegas Thomas and Mack Center.

Proctor, a 2003 graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School and former world champion bull rider, turned in winning scores in the first two go-rounds, pocketing $18,629.81 each night and was the front runner going into Saturday’s round.

Last Thursday, Proctor scored 89 points on News Flash for top money and on Friday scored 89 on Squirrel Grove.

But the Grand Coulee cowboy, now out of North Carolina, ran into a “Wicked” bull.

“Wicked” had his way Saturday night with Proctor, bucking the popular cowboy off before the eight-second bell. “Wicked” hadn’t been ridden in 23 tries.

Sunday, Proctor posted a 80.5 score on “Jitter Bug,” but was knocked out of the lead.

On Monday night, on the fifth go-round, he scored 76.5 points on a successful ride on “Zapper” and ended up in fifth place with some $4,800.

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo continues through Saturday, Dec.14.