LEWIS JOINS PROFESSIONAL RANKS AS ROITH, HAINES & SMITH WIN TOUR CARDS
JAMIE LEWIS, Bernd Roith,
Johnny Haines and Dave Smith were the winners of the last four automatic Tour
Cards on Day Four of the PDC's Qualifying School on Sunday.
Welsh ace Lewis, 20, will become a
full-time professional in 2012 after his success at the Barnsley Metrodome - as
he defeated former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Jenkins 6-3 to win a
Tour Card.
The youngster from Cardigan dropped only
four legs in wins over Hans Hagley, Josh Jones and Stephen Hardy before
being handed passage into the deciding game when former World Championship
finalist Steve Grubb was forced to withdraw from their Last 16 clash with an
arm injury.
Lewis has previously played in events on
the PDC Unicorn Youth Tour but will now get his chance to establish himself
amongst the game's biggest names this year.
"It's probably the hardest
tournament I've ever played in - the standard has been amazing and I've had to
play really well to get over the finishing line today," said Lewis.
"It's a huge achievement for me and
I can't wait to play on the PDC circuit now. I'm looking forward to ths year
enormously and eventually I want to get myself to the top."
Lewis was joined by Germany's Bernd Roith and
English pair Dave Smith and Johnny Haines in winning Tour Cards on Sunday.
Roith, who made his breakthrough by qualifying
for the 2010 European Championship, defeated former Lakeside Champion Les
Wallace 6-5 to win his Tour Card.
The 52-year-old from Tuebinghen was
also taken to a deciding leg by youngster Keegan Brown and Nick Fullwell on
the day, as well as defeating Mark Lawrence and Paul Marsh in securing his
status as a full-time professional.
"This is a great achievement for
me," said Roith.
"I seem to always make it hard for myself by the experience I've gained in
the last couple of years helped me through today.
"I'm looking forward to playing for
Germany in the World Cup next month and then I'll concentrate on the PDC
circuit."
Leeds-born Dave Smith, nicknamed The
Rhino, celebrated a decade on the PDC circuit by preserving his status as a
professional with a 6-2 win over Leicestershire newcomer Gareth Cousins in his
decider.
Smith also defeated Joey Palfreyman,
Canada's Shaun Narain,
Daniel Day, Philip Wathen and
Daniel Starkey on Sunday, and admitted: "It feels fantastic because I was
under pressure.
"I've been privileged to play in the
top TV events since I came through in 2002, when I qualified for the World
Grand Prix, but that mean nothing here at Q School.
"It was so hard but I know I've got
the game to do this, and I want to have a big year now."
Swindon's Haines, meanwhile, followed up
qualification as an amateur for four previous UK Opens by winning a Tour Card
with a comeback win over Gary Butcher in his decider, as he hit back from 5-3
down to win 6-5.
Haines, 47, had also defeated Matthew
Edgar and Jim Walker 6-5 on Sunday and whitewashed Andy Relf 6-0
in the Last 16 as he earned his chance on the PDC circuit.
"It feels brilliant," said
Haines. "The UK Opens have been a great experience and it's great that I
get a chance to have a go on the circuit now."
Edgar and Walker were amongst 24 further
players to win a Tour Card based on ranking points won across the four days at
Qualifying School, which takes the number of Tour Card holders on the PDC
circuit to 128.
Widnes' John Bowles and Dutch youngster
Gino Vos shared the lead on the Q School Order of Merit, ahead of Bolton's Joe Murnan and
experienced pair Andy Jenkins and Matt Clark.
The qualifiers also included Isle of
Wight youngster Keegan Brown, Daventry's Matthew Edgar, Ireland's recent World
Championship qualifier Connie Finnan and 1997 Lakeside Championship winner
Les Wallace.
PDC Director Rod Harrington said:
"The tournaments have been a huge success and it bodes well for the future
of the sport at the top level to see so many quality players winning Tour
Cards.
"With £5 million of prize money to
play for this year, the standard of competition will be higher than ever and
I'm sure we'll see many of these Tour Card winners in front of the TV cameras
soon."
The players who failed to win Tour Cards
become Associate Members of the PDPA, allowing them to enter the UK Open
Qualifiers, non-UK Players Championships and qualifiers for the European Tour
events and World Championship.
These include former Las Vegas Desert
Classic winner Peter Manley, 1996 World Matchplay champion Peter Evison,
former World Masters winner Colin Monk, Chris Mason and Spanish World Cup
semi-finalist Carlos Rodriguez.
Qualifying School - Day Four First Round Darren Johnson Bye Aodhagan O'Neill Bye Martyn Turner Bye Matthew Tedstone Bye Connie Finnan 6-4
Lee White James Guilfoyle 6-2
Fred Smith Martin Whatmough 6-2
Andrew Hibbert Gareth Cousins 6-0 John Walton John Bowles Bye Mark Robinson Bye Sam Hill Bye David Nelson Bye Ian Moss 6-2 Peter Harris Richard North 6-2 Alex Clyburn Simon Burt 6-0 James Stoneley Dave Honey 6-3 Geoff Whitworth Anthony Littleton Bye Steve Barrow Bye Nigel Birch Bye Paddy Meaney Bye Daniel Starkey 6-3 Geoff Kime Ian Lever 6-5 Andy Hutchings Chris Mason 6-5 Ashley Holgate Chris Aubrey 6-3 Mark Ashby Jon Bott Bye Peter Manley Bye Lee Butler Bye Philip Wathen Bye Daniel Day 6-2 David Kelly Thomas Jones 6-4 Ryan Herrington Shaun Narain 6-3
Ross Smith Dave Smith 6-2 Joey Palfreyman Jon Archer Bye Gary Butcher Bye Joe Murnan Bye Lee Saville Bye Mareno Michels 6-2
Chris Dale Andy Firth 6-4 Rees Hall John Scott 6-1 Paul Hodkin Ron Atwill 6-5
Dylan Duo Matt Clark Bye Stephen Clews Bye John Turnbull Bye Stuart White Bye Tim Hope 6-5 Danny Moore Gino Voss 6-0 Wilfried Hoberg Steve McNally 6-1 Richard Hosey Darrell Claydon 6-5
Paul Sawyer Jim Walker Bye Martino Tagliapietra Bye Adam Hunt Bye Stuart Woodmore Bye Neville Roberts Bye Adrian Bolitho 6-4 Shaun Vernall Johnny Haines 6-0 Paul Davison Matthew Edgar 6-1 Ricky Williams Michael Gorst Bye Andy Relf Bye David Charnock Bye Lee Whitworth Bye Richie Walsh Bye Pat Pace 6-0 Jonathan Mulley Spencer Murphy 6-0 Jim McKevitt Mark Stephenson 6-0 Andy Pearce Andy Jenkins Bye Andrew Hodges Bye David Sanders Bye Carlos Rodriguez Bye Andrew Humphrey Bye Danny Dyer 6-3 Mark Forman Kevin Dowling 6-4 Danny Summers James Young 6-3 Brian Kirk Andrew Johnson Bye Karl Forrington Bye Chris Skeats Bye Damien Sherwood Bye Yoshan Roxy Iyer Bye Campbell Jackson 6-5 Marko Kantele Kentaro Suzuki 6-0 Darren Ward Chris Allen 6-2 Daniel Bunker Peter Hughes Bye Josh Jones Bye Hans Hagley Bye Jamie Lewis Bye Liam Kelly Bye Aaron Turner 6-0 Co Stompe Jnr
Stephen Hardy 6-5 Colin Monk Keith Rooney 6-3 Andrew Palmer Tony Tasker Bye Scott Coleman Bye Michael Veitch Bye Darren Webster Bye Martin Perring Bye
Steve Grubb 6-1 Enrico Fraccara John Jenkinson 6-5
Ryan Harrington Keith Stephen 6-1 Aden Kirk Tony Wood Bye Wayne Pepper Bye John Trembeth Bye Jamie Landon Bye Jerry Hendriks Bye
Matthew Dicken 6-3
Richard Plowman Jamie Atkins 6-0 Steven Degville James Thompson 6-5 Darren Latham Rocco Maes Bye Ken MacNeil Bye Nathan Richards Bye Gareth Pass Bye Jack Hill Bye Brandon Walsh 6-0 Norman Fletcher Les Wallace 6-4 Andy Turnbull Michael Peel 6-0 Joe Thompson Paul Marsh Bye Steve Haggerty Bye Mark Lawrence Bye Bernd Roith Bye Peter Evison Bye
Mick McGowan 6-0 Rhys Dudley Keegan Brown 6-2 Toon Greebe Dave Ladley 6-0
Darren Williams Gary Eastwood Bye Sean White Bye Luke Broadbent Bye Mark Frost Bye John Millett Bye Stephen Jauch 6-1
Craig Pope Nick Fullwell 6-0
Lewis Venes Matthew Waddoups 6-1
Stefanie Luck
Second Round Darren Johnson 6-3 Aodhagan O'Neill Martyn Turner 6-2 Matthew Tedstone Connie Finnan 6-2
James Guilfoyle Gareth Cousins 6-3 Martin Whatmough John Bowles 6-2 Mark Robinson Sam Hill 6-3 David Nelson Ian Moss 6-2 Richard North Dave Honey 6-5 Simon Burt Anthony Littleton 6-4 Steve Barrow Nigel Birch 6-5 Paddy Meaney Daniel Starkey 6-3 Ian Lever Chris Mason 6-5 Chris Aubrey Peter Manley 6-2 Jon Bott Philip Wathen 6-0
Lee Butler Daniel Day 6-0 Thomas Jones Dave Smith 6-1 Shaun Narain Gary Butcher 6-1 Jon Archer Joe Murnan 6-0
Lee Saville Mareno Michels 6-4
Andy Firth Ron Atwill 6-3
John Scott Matt Clark 6-2 Stephen Clews Stuart White 6-0 John Turnbull Gino Vos 6-3
Tim Hope Steve McNally 6-5 Darrell Claydon Jim Walker 6-3 Martino Tagliapietra Adam Hunt 6-3 Stuart Woodmore Adrian Bolitho 6-1 Neville Roberts Johnny Haines 6-5 Matthew Edgar Andy Relf 6-2
Michael Gorst David Charnock 6-2
Lee Whitworth Richie Walsh Walkover (Pat Pace timed out) Mark Stephenson 6-3 Spencer Murphy Andy Jenkins 6-1 Andrew Hodges Carlos Rodriguez 6-5 David Sanders Andrew Humphrey 6-1 Danny Dyer Kevin Dowling 6-0 James Young Karl Forrington 6-0
Andrew Johnson Damien Sherwood 6-0 Chris Skeats Yoshan Roxy Iyer 6-1
Campbell Jackson Kentaro Suzuki 6-2 Chris Allen Josh Jones 6-3 Peter Hughes Jamie Lewis 6-0 Hans Hagley Liam Kelly 6-5 Aaron Turner Stephen Hardy 6-5 Keith Rooney Scott Coleman 6-3 Tony Tasker Michael Veitch 6-5
Darren Webster Steve Grubb 6-1 Martin Perring Keith Stephen 6-3 John Jenkinson Wayne Pepper 6-5 Tony Wood John Trembeth 6-3
Jamie Landon Matthew Dicken 6-2
Jerry Hendriks Jamie Atkins 6-4 James Thompson Ken MacNeil 6-5
Rocco Maes Gareth Pass 6-2 Nathan Richards Jack Hill 6-1 Brandon Walsh Les Wallace 6-4 Michael Peel Paul Marsh 6-5 Steve Haggerty Bernd Roith 6-3
Mark Lawrence Peter Evison 6-2
Mick McGowan Keegan Brown 6-4 Dave Ladley Sean White 6-3 Gary Eastwood Mark Frost 6-2 Luke Broadbent Stephen Jauch 6-0
John Millett Nick Fullwell 6-3
Matthew Waddoups
Third Round Darren Johnson 6-1 Martyn Turner Gareth Cousins 6-3 Connie Finnan John Bowles 6-2 Sam Hill Ian Moss 6-2 Dave Honey Nigel Birch 6-5 Anthony Littleton Daniel Starkey 6-4 Chris Mason Philip Wathen 6-2
Peter Manley Dave Smith 6-2 Daniel Day Gary Butcher 6-3 Joe Murnan Mareno Michels 6-3
Ron Atwill Matt Clark 6-5 Stuart White Gino Vos 6-3
Steve McNally Jim Walker 6-3 Adam Hunt Johnny Haines 6-1 Adrian Bolitho Andy Relf 6-3
David Charnock Mark Stephenson 6-1 Richie Walsh Andy Jenkins 6-3 Carlos Rodriguez Kevin Dowling 6-2 Andrew Humphrey Karl Forrington 6-1
Damien Sherwood Yoshan Roxy Iyer 6-3 Kentaro Suzuki Jamie Lewis 6-2 Josh Jones Stephen Hardy 6-5 Liam Kelly Michael Veitch 6-0
Scott Coleman Steve Grubb 6-5 Keith Stephen Wayne Pepper 6-2 John Trembeth Matthew Dicken 6-3
Jamie Atkins Gareth Pass 6-5 Ken MacNeil Les Wallace 6-3 Jack Hill Bernd Roith 6-2
Paul Marsh Keegan Brown 6-1 Peter Evison Mark Frost 6-4 Sean White Nick Fullwell 6-2
Stephen Jauch Losers - 2 Ranking Points
Fourth Round Gareth Cousins 6-3 Darren Johnson Ian Moss 6-2 John Bowles Daniel Starley 6-2
Nigel Birch Dave Smith 6-5 Philip Wathen Gary Butcher 6-4 Mareno Michels Matt Clark 6-3 Gino Vos Johnny Haines 6-5 Jim Walker Andy Relf 6-4
Mark Stephenson Andy Jenkins 6-5 Kevin Dowling Karl Forrington 6-1 Yoshan Roxy Iyer Jamie Lewis 6-2 Stephen Hardy Steve Grubb 6-5 Michael Veitch Wayne Pepper 6-5 Matthew Dicken Les Wallace 6-1 Gareth Pass Bernd Roith 6-5
Keegan Brown Nick Fullwell 6-1
Mark Frost Losers - 3 Ranking Points
Fifth Round Gareth Cousins 6-3 Ian Moss Dave Smith 6-2 Daniel Starley Gary Butcher 6-2 Matt Clark Johnny Haines 6-0 Andy Relf Andy Jenkins 6-1 Karl Forrington Jamie Lewis Walkover (Steve Grubb withdrew through injury) Les Wallace 6-2 Wayne Pepper Bernd Roith 6-5
Nick Fullwell Losers - 5 Ranking Points
Sixth Round Dave Smith 6-2 Gareth Cousins Johnny Haines 6-5 Gary Butcher Jamie Lewis 6-3 Andy Jenkins Bernd Roith 6-5
Les Wallace
Winners get PDC Tour Cards Losers - 9 Ranking Points
Tour Card Winners Day One: Richie Howson,
Andrew Cornwall, Darren Whittingham,
Tony West Day Two: Steve West, Stuart Kellett, Michael Barnard, Kurt Van De Rijck Day Three: Dean Winstanley,
Jeff Smith, Adrian Gray,
Andrew Gilding Day Four: Dave Smith, Johnny Haines, Jamie Lewis, Bernd Roith Q School Order of Merit Qualifiers: John Bowles, Gino Vos,
Andy Jenkins, Matt Clark, Joe Murnan, Gary Butcher, Stephen Hardy, Keegan
Brown, Mareno Michels,
Ross Smith, Matthew Edgar, Nick Fullwell, Daniel Starkey, Connie Finnan,
Gareth Cousins, Gareth Pass, Anthony Littleton, John Scott, Paddy Meaney,
Steve Grubb, Jim Walker, Liam Kelly, Les Wallace, Keith Stephen.
Date : 23-01-2012
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