Brad Dalke, Francis Ellis, and Cody “Beef” Franke emerged victorious at the Internet Invitational, claiming the $1 million grand prize in a dramatic finish at Big Cedar Lodge in Hollister, Missouri. The event, created by Barstool Sports and featuring a mix of YouTube personalities, social media stars, and golf diehards, delivered everything fans hoped for: pressure, storylines, and unforgettable moments.
The championship matchup saw Dalke, Ellis, and Franke take on a team headlined by Paige Spiranac, Frankie Borelli, and Malosi Togisala. The contest came down to the 18th hole in a tense modified alternate-shot format with three players per side. With the match tied, Borelli’s tee shot veered into tall grass while Dalke launched a massive drive straight down the center of the fairway, creating a 150-yard separation between the teams’ second shots.
Trying to recover, Borelli hit a thin approach that skipped over the green and plunged into the pond behind it. The costly mistake forced his team to concede the hole — and the match.
“The fact that Frankie was even able to bring the club back—I’m proud of him,” said his Fore Play co-host Trent Ryan. “My bones would have left my body and I’d be a puddle on the tee box.”
But the win carried emotional weight. Cody “Beef” Franke, a rising and beloved member of Barstool’s Fore Play golf team, broke into tears after the victory. In a poignant moment highlighted during the broadcast, Beef spoke about his intentions for the prize money: “I think I’d pay off my parents’ house.”
Franke passed away unexpectedly in late October 2025, making the triumph — and those words — especially impactful for fans and the Barstool community.
The match itself was filled with momentum swings. The lead changed several times as players navigated the pressure of alternate-shot golf. Spiranac was warned for stepping on native grass in a penalty area, sparking debate about whether it had improved her team’s lie. Togisala faced similar scrutiny for allegedly using a rangefinder with slope enabled — a violation in competition play.
The event showcased some of Big Cedar Lodge’s best courses, including Payne’s Valley, Buffalo Ridge, and Cliffhanger. Over six episodes, the tournament’s 48-player starting field was repeatedly halved through a series of challenges: two-man scramble match play, alternate-shot duels, and three-man alternate-shot battles. Produced by Bob Does Sports and Fore Play, the YouTube series blended competition, humor, and high-pressure golf.
Initially promising a $1 million prize pool, the event grew as Dave Portnoy added skins games and on-course side bets, raising both stakes and entertainment value. With the success of this year’s tournament — and the emotional storylines that came with it — Fore Play has already hinted at future editions of the Internet Invitational, potentially with even bigger prize pools and even more chaos.
For now, Dalke, Ellis, and the late Cody “Beef” Franke stand as champions of a tournament built on personality, pressure, and pure entertainment — a fitting tribute to the player whose passion helped define the event.
My Goat Sports 