DFS players chasing an edge in DraftKings PGA DFS Showdown contests just got a masterclass in how to win big using data. FantasyGainz took down $10,000 in the Round 1 PGA DFS Showdown at the 3M Open, using a portfolio of 52 lineups powered by DFS tools from Stokastic. Let this be a lesson to you: Stokastic’s DFS Sims can build winning lineups for PGA Showdown formats too, not just the main slates. Let’s learn how they got it done.
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DFS Tools Power $10K DraftKings PGA DFS Showdown Win
Over the course of 52 entries, FantasyGainz churned out 21 cashing lineups, including 10 with at least 100% ROI. That’s a solid rate even if they didn’t bink the whole darn thing.
DFS is filled with examples of one-off spike weeks, but this was a masterclass in contest strategy and pool construction. FantasyGainz applied simulation-driven projections from Stokastic to build an efficient lineup set that consistently hit +ROI scores, minimizing overlap while capturing ceiling performances across the board.
It’s also worth noting that FantasyGainz really spread out exposures across the 52 lineups. No single golfer appeared in more than 20, and nine were in 10 or more. Here’s a list of their most used golfers:
| Golfer | Exposure Count | Actual Golfer ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Perez | 19 | 135.7% |
| Jhonattan Vegas | 13 | -67.6% |
| Wyndham Clark | 13 | -72.2% |
| Jake Knapp | 13 | -33.9% |
| Thriston Lawrence | 12 | -29.3% |
| Sam Ryder | 11 | -69.2% |
| Lee Hodges | 11 | -69.4% |
| Hayden Springer | 11 | -87.8% |
| Pierceson Coody | 10 | 175.1% |
The $10,000 Winner: Smart, Contrarian, and Built With Sims
The winning lineup featured these six golfers:
Chris Gotterup, Pierceson Coody, Matti Schmid, Thorbjorn Olesen, Victor Perez, Paul Peterson
Not a single golfer in that lineup was mega-chalk; Perez was the closest at 20.2%, but that was only seventh in the whole field. Everyone else fell between 6% and 18.4% owned, which goes to show how a low-level tournament like the 3M Open is a good opportunity to find upside from those mid-tier golfers.
By leaning on Stokastic’s contest-sim tools, FantasyGainz identified these leverage spots to craft a lineup portfolio that could spike without blending into the chalk.
The Core to This PGA DFS Winning Lineup
Across the 52 entries, FantasyGainz took a few swings but avoided overcommitting to a narrow core. Instead, they leaned into golfers who were undervalued by the field but projected strongly in the simulations.
The key here was balance: a wide enough net to avoid catastrophic misses, but enough overlap in high-sim performers to capture top-heavy outcomes.
Want to get access to the same tools? Well, on top of getting 15% off your first week of PGA DFS with code SHOWDOWN2, you can also get a full FREE MONTH of Stokastic DFS Sims by signing up with one of our sportsbook or DFS partners! Click the image below to get started.
