Ante Up River

sighs in haunted frontier Welcome to the Deadlands, where the only thing deader than my enthusiasm is your putting game. Let's see what the cursed code cooked up for the opening ante.

Ante up or walk away 🃏

The Dealer dealt the first hand at Creekside Park, and seventeen souls sat down at the table for "Ante Up River." Under cloudy 52°F skies with a 9 mph wind whispering through the cottonwoods, the stage was set for a nine-week gamble where throws are bets and scores are cards. The House—this cursed frontier—was open for business, and the only currency accepted was survival.

The big dogs hunted well 🐺

In the RPA division, the predators came out to play. Jared Lang didn't just win; he authored a wire-to-wire masterclass, carding a clean -10 (50) for a 1010-rated round, a blistering +50 points above his rating. Hot on his heels was Ethan Walker with a -9, while Ben Marolf, Nicholas Jennings, and Garrett Glass rounded out a stacked podium, all finishing under par. When the high rollers show up, the pot gets deep fast.

The middle table delivered 🎰

Over at the RAD table, the action was just as decisive. Thomas Sautel took control early and never looked back, securing a commanding -7 (53) victory. His 972-rated round was a massive +44 over his rating. The real drama was for second place, where Anthony Kai and Jon White battled to a tie at -2, with Zack White lurking just a stroke back at -1. The middle stakes, it turns out, can still produce a showdown.

The undercards showed up 👊

Don't sleep on the smaller stacks—they're playing the same deadly game. In RAF, Nicholas Stosiek navigated to a +5 (65) victory. The RAE table saw a proper duel, with Stephen Dunton and David LaTour finishing knotted up at +7 (67). And in the solo RAH performance, Dillon Mueller posted a respectable -3 (57). Every card at the table, no matter the buy-in, carries the same risk of elimination.

Some souls overperformed wildly 👻

The PDGA Live stats revealed who made a deal with the frontier spirits. Beyond Lang's +50 and Sautel's +44, Nicholas Jennings exploded for a +52 rating jump. Garrett Glass played a bogey-free round, the ultimate poker face. On the flip side, Marvin Atene, Stephen Dunton, and David LaTour found the cards running cold, with ratings taking a hit. The numbers don't lie, but in the Deadlands, they sometimes scream.

The side pot got spicy 💰

While the tournament pot was being divvied, the skins game was where the real gambling happened. Jon White went on a heater, snagging 10 skins for $20, including a massive 9-skin carryover on hole 11 that he claimed solo. Jared Lang wasn't far behind, collecting 8 skins for $16. Ethan Walker, despite his podium finish, walked away from the side action empty-handed—a harsh reminder that in this saloon, you need to win the right holes.

No crowns changed hands 👑

The reigning monarchs of the wasteland held their ground. In Pool A, Jared Lang successfully defended the Wound Cipher—the supernatural warning system etched in the scars of survivors—by winning his division. In Pool B, Nicholas Stosiek kept the Noose Elegy close, his RAF victory ensuring the lament for the nearly-hanged stayed with its bearer. The first challenge was issued, and the kings answered.

Stay sharp or get cut ⚔️

The first card has been played, but the Dealer's deck is far from empty. The culling has only just begun. Next week, the game moves to the "Draper Deal," where the House raises the minimum bet and the point requirements get steeper. The weak get culled. The strong get remembered. And I'll be here in this dust-choked broadcast booth, narrating every plastic-flinging moment of it. Saddle up.