Frank Patti Nabs $103,326 at HPT Ameristar

The Heartland Poker Tour branded another winner when Frank Patti outlasted a field of more than 300 to take down the Main Event at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.

Patti earned $103,326 for the victory, some of which is earmarked for his daughter's education. The Gladstone, Missouri man did some schooling of his own, teaching his tablemates at the final table how to take a chip lead and run with it.

Those who took note of the lesson plan included runner-up Matthew Lawrence, who couldn't overcome a 3 to 1 chip deficit when heads-up action began. Lawrence's payday amounted to $65,415.

Prior to the elimination of Lawrence, Aaron Wilt bit the dust in 3rd place for $43,805. He was preceded by Travis Remmert of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who made his second HPT final table in 3 and 1/2 months. Remmert finished 3rd in Altoona in December for $26,083, but could go no higher than 4th in Kansas City, albeit with an even bigger cash of $30,551.

The 5th, 6th and 7th place finishers, Daniel Lowery ($22,913), Martin Abraham ($17,971) and Bryan Moon ($15,186), respectively, all were sent to the rail by the eventual champion. The remaining final table participants were Pete Rios from Texas and Kenny Baggett from Arkansas. Rios cashed for $12,580, while Baggett, who normally sits on the other side of the poker table as a dealer, grabbed $10,828 as the first player knocked out.

The HPT has moved on to Mississippi at the Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg. Two Day 1 flights are set for Saturday, March 28 before Day 2 on Sunday and the televised final table on Monday, March 30. The tour will shift back to Missouri next month from April 3-13 at the River City Casino & Hotel in St. Louis.