Cody Turner, on Duallin Bingo Lena, won the Area 18 Youth Scholarship Cutting with 220. He earned a $3,000 scholarship. Special

Cody Turner did just that as he marked 220 on Duallin Bingo Lena to capture the Area 18 Youth Scholarship Cutting finals at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

Turner, of Waynesboro, Ga., won the grand prize, a $3,000 scholarship. Priscilla Crawley and Crackerboy finished second at 212 for a $2,000 scholarship, while Brett Lawson and San Del Sugar finished third (210, $1,500).

Turner finished in the middle of the pack in this event in his only other appearance, last year.

"I don't really know the difference; both my horses were about the same," Turner said. "I just got luckier, I guess."

Lucky and smart. Turner knew right away when he began cutting a testy first cow to quickly move to another cow.

"He kind of stayed there pretty good in the middle of the pen, and I didn't want to stay on him too long and mess up," Turner said.

After making a smooth cut on a second cow, he went back for a third cow. Turner said he felt the momentum building. He began cutting more aggressively as the crowd got behind him.

"Toward the end, I kind of felt him getting better," Turner said. "Every cut, he was getting better."

The 16-year-old Turner has only been cutting for about four years. He began riding Duallin Bingo Lena three months ago, when Pate found the horse, an 8-year-old gelding by Dual Pep out of Bingos Lena, for him. The horse is owned by David and Glenda Wilson.

"He's got a lot of talent," Turner said of the horse. "He gives you all he's got out there."

"He's got a lot of heart and a lot of desire," Pate said. "He's a real hard stopper. I knew the first time I ever rode him he was a real outstanding horse."

Turner rode fifth in the 14-horse competition. He waited and watched while other horse and rider pairs fell by the wayside.

Two-time defending champion Matthew Blewitt lost his first cow. Crawley, the 2002 champion, almost lost her second cow, but held her run together.

"I knew there were a lot of pretty good competitors coming up," Turner said.

A freshman at Burke County High School, Turner said he wants to attend Alabama upon graduation.

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