It has taken two short years for the Western Horseman Cup to become one of the main staples of the Augusta Futurity.

The unofficial event features a large purse and an elite field. The competition began on a Thursday night, but was moved last year to a more prominent Friday night spot.

The Western Horseman Cup open and non-pro competitions are two of the premier - if not the premier - events on the cutting schedule. The top 15 Open 4-year-old horses and top 15 Non-Professional riders compete in the one go-round championship for a share of the $250,000 purse.

In 2005, Eddie Flynn and Boon San Kitty took home the largest check in Augusta Futurity history ($50,000) with their open championship ride. Owner Alice Walton was in tears after the victory.

Jim Langdale proved that anything can happen in one run. Atop Widows Intentions, Langdale posted the top score in the non-pro, earning $30,001.

"It's probably the most humbling thing that's ever happened to me in my life," Langdale said after last year's competition.

The third annual Western Horseman Cup finals begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center. Cutters qualified for a spot in the finals through a season-long competition which awarded points at nearly 50 National Cutting Horse Association-sanctioned shows throughout 2005.

Quintan Blue, ridden by Roger Wagner; Cat T Masterson, ridden by Tag Rice; and Show Biz Ben, ridden by Austin Shepard, each qualified in the open by winning either the spring, summer or fallseasons of 2005.. Matt Miller, Skip Queen and Sandy Bonelli each qualified in the non-pro by winning one of those three seasons.

Tag Rice and Chiquita Pistol and Kyle Manion and Ricochet Pep were the first pair of riders and horses to have their names inscribed on a trophy at the NCHA's headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

In 2004, Rice came within a point of tying the arena record, marking 230 to win the open finals. He earned $50,000.

"It's fun to win any cutting when all the best cutters in the world are here with the best horses," Rice said.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.