RAPID CITY - The rodeo fans were charged up at the final night to qualify for the finals today at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The best 12 in each event advance to today's TV round at 1:30 p.m.

In Saturday's action, bareback rider Bud Munns of Utah rode a re-ride horse to score 80 points and jump into the top 12. Belle Fourche cowboy Cleve Schmidt leads the way with an 87. It took 78 points to make the short round.

None of the calf ropers were able to dent the finals Saturday night, as Cory Zion of Colorado had the fast time of 10.9. Tyler Thiel of Belle Fourche won the first round in 8.7, while Jerrad Hoffstetter won the second round in 8.6. Hoffstetter sets the pace in the average with 17.6 on two.

The final results of the event were pending at the Journal press time. It takes a score of 22.3 on a pair of rides to make the finals.

There were changes in the bronc riding Saturday with Ty Manke of Hermosa posting a 78, Clayton Selby of Pinedale, Wyo., was 77. Two Montanans, seven-time world champion Dan Mortensen and NFR veteran Jess Martin, put 74s on the board.

Among steer wrestlers, the best of the bunch is from Rapid City, and he drew wild acclaim from the partisan, sell-out crowd. Nick Guy, a product of National American University's great rodeo program, won the first round with 4.2 points and leads the average in 9.8 on two. Jaren Whitman took second round honors with a 4.1. It took 16.4 on two to get to the finals.

Team ropers were tough on Saturday with Cody McMinn teaming with Kollin Von Ahn to head and heel in 4.5 seconds and tie for the second round win. They matched the 4.5-second run earlier this week by the Bransom and Dylan team. Yost and Levy roped two in 12.9 seconds to lead into the finals.

It has been the Tamra Musick show all week in barrel racing. The South Dakota pro won both rounds and leads the average going into the finals. Her time of 12.30 won the second round, and she scored 12.43 to set the pace in the first round. She leads the average by nearly half a second with 24.73.

The fastest run on Saturday night was logged by Renee Morgan of Colorado in 12.38. She goes to the finals in sixth place as a result. In this event it took two runs totaling 25.68 to make the finals.

Bull riders have matched the intensity of these capacity crowds all week. And the home state crowd is wild over Charlie Zoss. The eastern South Dakota bull rider leads the way with an 86-point ride. Brian Curtis of Belle Fourche marked an 85 on Saturday and all bull riders who scored at least 75 points made the short-go.

The finals begin at 1:30 p.m. today at the civic center and will be taped for later TV airing as part of the Pro Rodeo Tour.

Saturday notes:

- Much respected Badlands Circuit bull fighter Chris Aman was showing off his new son on Saturday. Adley Michael was born only two weeks ago. Chris is considering adding the barrel and some acts to his itinerary to increase his longevity in rodeo.

- The Y's Mens trio from Minot has thrilled the early crowd with their stirring rendition of the National Anthem. The version allows fans to sing along and the patriotism in the place is palpable as a result.

- The 2002 Miss Rodeo South Dakota, Jennifer Rusza of Selby, is the scoreboard operator for US Tobacco. She plans a marriage later in the year.

- Dan Mortensen made a welcome return to the Civic Center Saturday night.

The seven-time world champion took 2007 off except for a few select events and healed both physically and mentally.

"I didn't miss having to pack up and leave for another town," Mortensen said. "And I got a drift boat."

Mortensen announced after the 2006 National Finals that he was taking a year off from competition to get healthy. Many thought that he'd not be able to stay away, but he kept his word.

Rapid City is his fourth rodeo of the 2008 season and he qualified for the Sunday finals. It's good to have him back.