YOUNG STARS HEAD EUROPEAN DARTS OPEN^S UK QUALIFIERS
EMERGING stars Devon Petersen, James Hubbard, Joe Cullen, Jamie Lewis and Arron Monk were amongst the 20 UK Qualifiers for the third European Tour event to be held in Dusseldorf next month.
A field of 66 players took part in Friday^s knockout qualifier to win 20 places in next month^s European Darts Open tournament, which will be held at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf from July 6-8.
South African star Petersen swept past Darren Webster and Gareth Cousins to book his place in the £82,100 tournament, and was joined by a host of the young stars breaking through at the top level.
Welsh youngster Jamie Lewis defeated Adrian Gray in a deciding leg to qualify, with Bradford^s Joe Cullen winning by the same scoreline against Peter Hudson, while new PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion defeated Essex^s Richie Howson 6-4 in their decider.
Kent-born Ross Smith ended Prakash Jiwa^s hopes of qualifying for a third successive European Tour event with a 6-2 win, while Arron Monk defeated Jack Hill and Chris Mason to book his place in Dusseldorf.
Former World Championship finalist Mark Dudbridge qualified for his second European Tour event by seeing off Stephen Hardy 6-4, while Dean Winstanbley defeated experienced duo Matt Clark and Alex Roy to progress.
Jim Walker and Stuart Kellett continued their progression since joining the PDC circuit in January by qualifying, with Walker defeating both Barrie Bates and Sam Hill in a deciding leg.
Brian Woods knocked out Ted Hankey and Kevin Dowling to qualify, while Mick Todd won games with Dennis Smith and recent Youth Tour winner Adam Smith-Neale to book his place in the event.
Experienced stars Andy Jenkins, Ian White, Steve Maish, Johnny Haines, Mark Jones, Tony Littleton and Northern Ireland^s completed the line-up of qualifiers.
A further eight players will come through the European Qualifier in Berlin next weekend, with the final four competitors coming from a Home Nation Qualifier also to take place in Berlin.
The 32 qualifiers will be drawn against the leading 32 players from the PDC Order of Merit who have entered the tournament for the first round in Dusseldorf on July 6.
European Tour Event Three
UK Qualifier
First Round
Ian White Bye
John Scott Bye
William O^Connor 6-4 Dave Ladley
Stuart Kellett 6-1 Nigel Heydon
Gareth Cousins 6-2 Steve Grubb
Devon Petersen 6-3 Darren Webster
Keith Stephen 6-0 Steven Pearson
Tony Littleton 6-5 Darren Johnson
Richie Howson Bye
James Hubbard Bye
Peter Hudson Bye
Joe Cullen 6-3 Tony West
Dean Winstanley 6-2 Matt Clark
Alex Roy 6-2 John Bowles
Prakash Jiwa 6-0 Reece Robinson
Ross Smith 6-0 Christopher Dale
Andrew Gilding Bye
Mark Jones Bye
Kevin Dowling Bye
Brian Woods 6-3 Ted Hankey
Mick Todd 6-4 Dennis Smith
Adam Smith-Neale 6-4 Shaun Griffiths
Scott Rand 6-1 John Henderson
Paul Rowley 6-4 Michael Smith
Steve Maish Bye
Damien Sherwood Bye
Jamie Lewis Bye
Adrian Gray 6-5 Kevin McDine
James Richardson 6-0 Matthew Edgar
Andy Jenkins 6-2 Paul Barham
Arron Monk 6-2 Jack Hill
Chris Mason 6-4 Chris Aubrey
Mark Dudbridge Bye
Stephen Hardy Bye
Steve Evans Bye
Johnny Haines 6-5 Daniel Starkey
Michael Mansell 6-1 Terry Temple
Steve Hine 6-4 Ian Jopling
Sam Hill 6-5 Darren Whittingham
Jim Walker 6-5 Barrie Bates
Second Round
Ian White 6-2 John Scott
Stuart Kellett 6-4 William O^Connor
Devon Petersen 6-0 Gareth Cousins
Tony Littleton 6-3 Keith Stephen
James Hubbard 6-4 Richie Howson
Joe Cullen 6-5 Peter Hudson
Dean Winstanley 6-4 Alex Roy
Ross Smith 6-2 Prakash Jiwa
Mark Jones 6-3 Andrew Gilding
Brian Woods 6-2 Kevin Dowling
Mick Todd 6-4 Adam Smith-Neale
Scott Rand 6-5 Paul Rowley
Steve Maish 6-4 Damien Sherwood
Jamie Lewis 6-5 Adrian Gray
Andy Jenkins 6-5 James Richardson
Arron Monk 6-3 Chris Mason
Mark Dudbridge 6-4 Stephen Hardy
Johnny Haines 6-4 Steve Evans
Michael Mansell 6-3 Steve Hine
Jim Walker 6-5 Sam Hill
Qualifiers
Ian White
Stuart Kellett
Devon Petersen
Tony Littleton
James Hubbard
Joe Cullen
Dean Winstanley
Ross Smith
Mark Jones
Brian Woods
Mick Todd
Scott Rand
Steve Maish
Jamie Lewis
Andy Jenkins
Arron Monk
Mark Dudbridge
Johnny Haines
Michael Mansell
Jim Walker