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As Thursday night at the Days of '47 Rodeo wound down to the final event – Championship Bull Riding – Sonny Murphy quietly braced himself for yet another ride with his 3-year-old son in the stands.

Just before the gates opened, the announcers made sure to set aside some time to give the Herriman native a warm welcome. The crowd cheered.

Why?

Because it isn't every day that a former top-ranked NFR bull rider strolls into town, let alone one of Utah's very own.

As one of the oldest riders in the competition, Murphy went on to place third with a 72 score — which earned him a $1,761.67 payout — despite almost falling off four times. He became one of just six riders to last eight seconds over the course of two days, finishing behind Guthrie Murray of Miami, Okla. (82, $3,523.33) and Brandon Davis of Lodi, Ohio (80.5, $2,642.50).

More impressively, Murphy did it after recently tearing his MCL and having back surgery a few months ago.

"It's hard to make it look pretty," Murphy said modestly.

For the 30-year-old veteran, it was a feat within itself to just be back on a bull.

"It's one of my favorite rodeos to come to," Murphy said of the event he's competed in close to 10 times. "I'm just trying to get healthy."

What many may not have known is that Murphy was one of the hottest up-and coming riders just 10 years ago. In 2006, Murphy entered the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas as the No. 2-ranked bull rider in the Jack Daniels World Standings with $129,169 in earnings. But after breaking his C6 vertebra in the first round of the finals, Murphy sat out the next calendar year.

Since then, Murphy has just been battling back to do what he loves most.

"Just for the love of it," Murphy said regarding why he continues to overcome grueling injuries to compete. "It's all I've really known to do."

Heading into Thursday night, Tim and Tyler Bingham — two brothers from Honeyville, Utah — held a competition-best 82 score that lasted until Murray matched it. Due to the new Elite Rodeo Athletes rules, which use what they call a "Lucky Chip" tiebreaker, Murray will qualify for Saturday's final as he drew a higher numbered chip before the competition.

But the biggest triumph of this year's Days of '47 Rodeo so far will be one of a passionate bull rider who was simply happy to be back living his childhood dream. Maybe it won't be this year, but Murphy said he wants to ultimately make it back to the NFR one day.

It's a dream he just won't let go.

"I kind of had it all there, in the palm of my hand there for awhile and getting hurt, I just kind of took it all for granted," Murphy said. "Really just trying to keep having fun and not really think about the past or future … just one bull at a time. Next year I'm going to really go hard." —

Thursday's results

Bull Riding

1) Guthrie Murray (Miami, OK) 82 points, $3,523.33 2) Brandon Davis (Lodi, OH), 80.5 points, 2,642.50 3) Sonny Murphy (Herriman, Utah), 72, $1,761.67 4) Dakota Ogden (Spanish Fork, Utah), 70.5 points, $880.83

Steer Wrestling

1) Dru Melvin (Hebron, NE) 4.13 points, $3,523.33 2)Stetson Jorgensen (N/A), 4.17 points, $2,642.50 3) Travis Carnine (Stanfield, OR) 4.36 points, $1,761.67 4) TJ Hall (Billey, TX) 4.64 points, $880.83)

Team Roping

1) Clay Smith (Broken Bow, OK)/Paul Eaves (Milsap, TX) 3.93 points, $3,523.33 2) Tom Richards (Humboldt, AZ)/Evan Arnold (Santa Margarita, CA) 5.57 points, $2642.50 3) Blaine Redhorse (Rough Rock, AZ)/James Begay, Jr. (Winslow, AZ) 9.8 points, $1,761.67 4) Matthew Pineda (Kamas, UT)/Brett Broadhead (Logan, UT) 10.31 points, $880.84

Girl's Barrel Racing Qualifier

1) Britta Thiel (Belle Fourche, SD) 13.36 points, $3,523.33 2) CJ Vondette (Rifle, CO) 13.42 points, $2,642.50 3) Shali Lord (Lamar CO) 13.46 points, $1,761.67 4) Kylar Terlip (Frontenac, KS) 13.55 points, $880.83

Bareback

1) Justin Miller (Billings, MT) 81.5 points, $3,283.33 2) JR Vezain (Cowley, WY) 79.5 points, $2,462.50 3) Ethan McNeill (Stanbury Park, UT) 77 points, $820.83 4) Taylor Broussard (Estherwood, LA) 72.5 points, $820.83

Saddle Bronc

1) Chase Miller (Yukon, OK) 75.5 points, $3,556.94 2) Wyatt Barstow (Springview, NE) 72.5 points, $2,736.11 3) Ryan Mackenzie (Homedale, ID) 62.5 points, $1,915.28

Tie Down

1) Colton Kofoed (Bear River, WY) 8.95 points, $3,523.33 2) Shay Carroll (Collinsville, TX) 9.41 points, $2,642.50 3) Clay long (Springtown, TX) 10.7 points, $1,767.67 4) Trevor Thiel (Greeley, CO) 12.12 points, $880.83