Kash Koch and Tyler McKnight won the 15.5 NRS Shootout at the Cinch USTRC National Finals in Fort Worth with a 28.63 on four head, worth $31,300.
“It’s been a great day,” Koch said. “Anytime you win, it’s exciting.”
For Koch, 26, of Vernon, Texas, and 2017 NFR heeler McKnight, 37, of Pollok, Texas, the win came down to keeping things simple and capitalizing when they had the opportunity.
“I just tried to lay them up for Tyler,” Koch said. “It made it easy.”
That strategy carried them through their first three runs—7.48, 7.20, and 6.25—good enough to come back third high call and finish the job in the short round.
The difference-maker came in the third round, where a 6.25-second run gave them the momentum they needed heading into the short go.
“We drew a really good loper,” the past California Rodeo Salinas champion said. “Kash did an awesome job—I was just following him the whole day.”
In the end, it all paid off with a 7.70 to secure the win.
“I was having a hard time making myself go today,” McKnight said of the short round. “But at that point, I wasn’t going to mess up… just wanted to be safe and finish.”
The team leaned on veteran horsepower to take them to the pay window.
Koch rode his 19-year-old head horse, “Stewie,” a longtime partner he describes as his “safety net.”
“I just try to stay out of his way,” Koch said.
McKnight was aboard a good one he’s ridden over the past few years.
“He’s a little aggravating,” McKnight said with a laugh about “Scoobie” that came from Travis Graves. “But he’s a very nice horse.”
The win capped a strong showing for Koch, who also placed seventh in the average of the #15.5, adding another $6,700 to his week.
For both ropers, the formula was simple—good steers, stick to the plan and don’t waste opportunities.
