Lennon and Dragt claim first Tour Cards of 2024 Q Schools
Steve Lennon and Martijn Dragt became the first players to win PDC Tour Cards at the 2024 Qualifying Schools on Thursday.
Former World Cup of Darts runner-up Lennon was victorious at UK Q School in Milton Keynes, while Dragt took the first card at European Q School in Kalkar, Germany.
Lennon, who narrowly lost his Tour Card following the 2023/24 World Darts Championship, won it back at the first time of asking thanks to a succession of strong displays.
The Irishman kicked off the day with a 101.42 average in a 6-2 win over Leighton Bennett, before seeing off Shaun Wilkinson and Brett Claydon to reach the last 16.
There, he came through a dramatic encounter with Matthew Dennant, surviving seven match darts to reach the quarter-finals where he overcame Justin Hood.
Lennon defeated George Killington 6-2 in the semi-finals before coming back from 4-3 down to beat Borland 6-4 and seal his place back on the professional circuit.
Meanwhile, Dragt defeated former Tour Card Holders Jesus Noguera, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Mario Vandenbogaerde on his way to the final.
An all-Dutch final saw Chris Landman take a 5-2 lead, before Dragt won four successive legs to win a Tour Card for the first time.
Friday will offer a further chance for players to win Tour Cards, with play commencing at 1300 CET in Kalkar and 1200 GMT in Milton Keynes.
In addition to the daily Tour Card winners, a further 23 Tour Cards will be awarded on a pro-rata basis to players from the respective UK/European Qualifying School Final Stage Orders of Merit following Day Four – 13 in Europe, and 10 in the UK.
The Orders of Merit for both UK and European Qualifying Schools are listed below.
Click here for full results and match stats from European Qualifying School Final Stage Day One
Click here for full results and match stats from UK Qualifying School Final Stage Day One
2023 PDC Qualifying Schools
European Final Stage (Day One)
Last 16
Darius Labanauskas 6-4 Stefan Schroder
Chris Landman 6-4 Laurens Admiraal
Tomas Houdek 6-2 Haupai Puha
Christian Kist 6-5 Radek Szaganski
Martijn Dragt 6-4 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Lukas Wenig 6-2 Jules van Dongen
Wesley Plaisier 6-2 Dragutin Horvat
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-3 Franz Roetzsch
Quarter-Finals
Chris Landman 6-2 Darius Labanauskas
Christian Kist 6-5 Tomas Houdek
Martijn Dragt 6-5 Lukas Wenig
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-1 Wesley Plaisier
Semi-Finals
Chris Landman 6-3 Christian Kist
Martijn Dragt 6-5 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Final
Martijn Dragt 6-5 Chris Landman
UK Final Stage (Day One)
Last 16
Justin Hood 6-1 Colin Osborne
Steve Lennon 6-5 Matthew Dennant
George Killington 6-5 Jamie Atkins
Shane McGuirk 6-5 Justin Smith
Patrick Lynskey 6-1 Darren Armstrong
William Borland 6-4 James Hurrell
Cam Crabtree 6-5 Thomas Lovely
Andy Boulton 6-4 Ashley Coleman
Quarter-Finals
Steve Lennon 6-3 Justin Hood
George Killington 6-3 Shane McGuirk
William Borland 6-1 Patrick Lynskey
Andy Boulton 6-5 Cam Crabtree
Semi-Finals
Steve Lennon 6-2 George Killington
William Borland 6-2 Andy Boulton
Final
Steve Lennon 6-4 William Borland
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
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