FALLON -- A Fallon cowboy stands atop the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings in team roping, and even he can't believe it.

``It doesn't seem like it's really happened yet,'' Jade Corkill told the Reno Gazette-Journal. ``I guess it hasn't sunk in yet.''

Corkill, 20, and partner Chad Masters of Clarksville, Tenn., opened solid leads in the standings after a recent win at Rodeo Houston.

Corkill has $40,902 in earnings to lead all heelers. Masters, the defending world champion, leads the header standings.

Corkill said the victory at Houston relieved a lot of self-imposed pressure.

``It's just a big relief,'' he said. ``Last year, it only took $50,000 (to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo). Now I have $40,000 in March with all the big (rodeos) still to come.''

Corkill, who was raised in Fallon, roped his first steer -- a wooden one -- in the family living room at the age of 1.

He won his first check at a rodeo when he was 6 and has been competing against and beating adults since he was 12.

He turned pro at 18 and was the PRCA rookie of the year for team roping heelers in 2006. He was 28th in the final world standings that year.

In 2007, Corkill finished 41st in the world after roping with several partners.

His current partner, Masters, had surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and will be out until June, when the Reno Rodeo is held.

Corkill will rope with Charly Crawford of Canby, Ore., a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, until Masters returns.

Corkill said he's happy the spring run of rodeos, which includes a number of West Coast events, is under way.

``I can't explain how happy I am to be in the Pacific time zone,'' he said, adding he also is looking forward to spending time at home in Fallon with his family.

His family, including parents Bruce and Mitzi Corkill, couldn't be prouder of his position in the world standings.

``This is the day that Grandma Corkill has been waiting for for 20 years,'' Bunny Corkill, his grandmother, said.