Triplett wins PBR event in Big Sky

BIG SKY — Columbia Falls bull rider Matt Triplett made the most of his trip to his home state, winning Big Sky PBR, a Professional Bull Riders Velocity Tour event on Saturday night at Sage Brush Field.

Triplett scored 85 points on Just Juan to move into the lead in the second round after pointing 86.5 on The Kraken on Friday.

The ride was enough to hold off the field, with the bulls keeping riders scoreless in the championship round, fielding Triplett 80 points in the world standings and a check for nearly $12,000.

Triplett has fared well during the PBR Built Ford Tough Series’ summer break, winning in Calgary in June and scoring two second-place finishes earlier this month.

He is ranked seventh in the world standings, 1,285 points back of world No. 1 Eduardo Aparecido. The BFTS begins the closing stretch of the season on Aug. 12-13 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.