OMAHA, Neb. - Shaun Stroh was pretty much ready to call it a year.

He was hovering around the mid-20s in the PRCA world saddle bronc standings and his chances of moving into the coveted top 15 were dwindling with each passing day in late August and early September.

"I planned to go to the bigger rodeos, like Pendleton, and not much else,'' said the North Dakota cowboy. "Reaching the National Finals Rodeo was pretty far-fetched at that point."

Stroh had one remaining opportunity to make a big jump in the standings - he was qualified for the Justin Boots Playoffs of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.

Stroh rode well at Ellensburg, Wash., and followed it with a clutch performance at the playoff in Puyallup, Wash. Stroh swept the semifinal and final rounds and won more than $15,000.

"The Wrangler playoffs meant I went from not having a shot at the Finals to having a shot,'' he said.

Stroh recently added a second place at the Pendleton, Ore., Round-Up and won some money at Bowman, N.D. He is now 12th in the world standings with $62,576 won.

The top 15 qualify for the NFR this December in Las Vegas.

Stroh has one more opportunity to make a big move in the standings. He's qualified for this week's Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb.

The event, which has a purse of $800,000, features the top 12 in each event from the Wrangler Tour standings. The 2009 PRCA regular season ends Sept. 30.

"I know I'm right there on the bubble,'' said Stroh, a three-time NFR qualifier, including last year. "And there are a pile of guys in the same spot that I'm in.''

Only $10,000 separates 10th through 17th place in the world standings. A repeat of his Puyallup performance could lift Stroh firmly into the top five of the world standings.

"There will be a lot of guys changing places in the standings this weekend,'' he said. "Win Omaha, and a guy can move way up there in the standings.''

The 37-year-old father of five won't be changing his strategy for the final high-paying regular-season rodeo of 2009.

"My approach will be the same thing when I started the playoffs in Ellensburg,'' Stroh said. "To take care of the horse I'm on. I've darn sure been blessed to be getting on some good horses these last couple of weeks. And I've been staying on, that's the most important thing.

"Now I've got another chance to get on some more good horses. I've got to ride what I've got.''

NOTES: Stroh will be joined in the saddle bronc field by Jesse Kruse of Great Falls. Kruse, who leads the world standings, won more than $15,000 at Omaha last year. Other regional competitors include: Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., bareback; Travis Tryan, Billings, team roping; Clay Tryan, Billings, team roping; Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., team roping; Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., saddle bronc; Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., bull riding. … World all-around standings leader Trevor Brazile has qualified in team roping and tie-down roping. He is ahead of his earnings pace from 2007 when he won a PRCA-record $425,115. Brazile is chasing his recordy-tying seventh all-around title. … Barrel racer Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., missed qualifying for the Justin Boots Championships by less than $37. The Circle native is sixth in the world standings.