Big John’s Putt Advances Team White at 2026 Internet Invitational
Big John Secures Sudden-Death Victory as Ryan Ruffels Leads Team White
The defining shot of the 2026 Internet Invitational came from a backward-blade putter wielded by John Melstrom II, known to his audience as Big John. With his team tied against Peter Finch’s squad on Day 1 at Ozarks National, and the second hole of a sudden-death playoff on the line, Melstrom holed a birdie putt that advanced Ryan Ruffels’ Team White and eliminated Team Finch. Filmed between August 10 and 17 at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri.
The Tech TL;DR:
- Day 1 Elimination: Opening duels at Ozarks National resulted in the outright elimination of two teams, including defending champion Brad Dalke’s Team Red.
- Broadcast Schedule: Episodes air at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube, with subsequent episodes scheduled through the November 12 finale.
The opening day featured two head-to-head duels consisting of 16 nine-hole matches—a morning two-person scramble followed by an afternoon alternate-shot session. Team Green, captained by Wesley Bryan, defeated defending champion Brad Dalke’s Team Red 10.5 to 5.5, ending Dalke’s title defense. Meanwhile, Team Ruffels and Team Finch finished their opening day tied at 8 to 8, forcing a sudden-death alternate-shot playoff where pairings could not play consecutive holes.
The afternoon alternate-shot session introduced the tournament’s first Gruden rule protest, which allowed the committee to discard suspected throwaway pairings and request balanced lineups. In the second extra hole of the playoff, Big John drove into a bunker before Grant Horvat splashed out close. Roger Steele missed a short birdie putt for Team Finch, leaving Melstrom to convert his birdie putt with his Reaper putter and secure the advancement for Team White.
| Team Matchup | Day 1 Format | Score / Result | Advancing Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Bryan vs. Team Red | Scramble & Alternate Shot | 10.5 – 5.5 | Team Bryan (Green) |
| Team Ruffels vs. Team Finch | Scramble & Alternate Shot | 8 – 8 (Sudden Death) | Team Ruffels (White) |
The surviving squads moved to Buffalo Ridge for Day 2, where Team White established a 6 to 2 lead following the morning scramble matches. While the competition highlights internet creators, several participants retain elite amateur and collegiate credentials. Team White captain Ryan Ruffels was the youngest winner in the Riversdale Cup’s history and reached 13th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before turning professional in January 2016. Team Red captain Brad Dalke reached the 2016 U.S. Amateur final and clinched Oklahoma’s 2017 NCAA title.
Production for the series continues with Episode 4 covering Day 2 singles following its Thursday premiere, leading toward Episode 5 on Monday, November 9, and the tournament finale on November 12. Viewers can watch new releases post at 1 p.m. ET across the Fore Play Golf, Bob Does Sports, and Internet Invitational YouTube channels.