Savannah, Mo., native Durfey wins first world rodeo title

Tyson Durfey captured his first world championship Saturday in tie-down roping at the National Finals Rodeo.

The Savannah, Mo., native ended his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season with a time of 7.4 seconds.

Durfey earned $148,000 in the 10-day event to pass Brazilian Marcos Costa by $3,518 to claim the coveted gold buckle, rising from 14th in the world standings when the NFR started on Dec. 1.

“I know my dad in Savannah, Mo., is happy right now because this was something that was part of his lifelong dream also,” he said of Roy, a tie-down roper who also trained horses and up-and-coming ropers. “This has been going on for 50-60 years. This one moment means the world.”

This story was originally published December 11, 2016 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Savannah, Mo., native Durfey wins first world rodeo title."