Winmau Development Tour: Rock Dominates Opening Handful:

Last weekend saw the 2022 PDC Winmau Development Tour season commence, as the first five events took place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan, with Northern Irish youngster Josh Rock hitting the headlines.

2021 saw the Development Tour season split into two sections, with a UK-based one and European based one taking place, due to the ongoing restrictions with COVID-19. With the restrictions now being lowered, the PDC’s Youth Tour season returns to its original format, with players from the UK & Ireland, Continental Europe, and the Rest of the World combining, with the overall Order of Merit winner sealing a place at the 2022/23 World Darts Championship and a PDC Tour Card for 2023-24.

The opening day saw Former World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks and Irish sensation Keane Barry reign victorious in winning Events 1 & 2 respectively, with Brooks defeating Christopher Holt in his decider, as Barry defeated his fellow Irishman Conor Heneghan in a last-leg shootout.

The following two days were then all about the fast-emerging Northern Irish starlet, Josh Rock, whose successful start to 2022 continued after he won a two-year tour card at Q School back in January.

Rock dropped just nine legs on route to the final in Event 3, before defeating Welsh youngster Lewy Williams in a last-leg shootout, with a 20 dart hold of throw sealing the victory and the first Development Tour crown of his career. Rock was then denied a daily double in the following Event after he was defeated 5-3 by a fellow Tour Card winner from 2022 Q School in Kevin Doets.

Rock then returned on the following day and smashed his way to the title, by defeating Scotsman Nathan Girvan 5-3 in the final, averaging more than 90 in seven of his eight victories, with his highest being over 100.

The 2022 PDC Winmau Development Tour season returns on May 6-8^th with Events 6 & 10 taking place again in Wigan, with Rock sitting top on £5,000, £1,800 clear of 2^nd place, Bradley Brooks.

—–ENDS—–