Jules van Dongen confirmed his PDC Tour Card for another 2 years after an impressive three-day Final Stage showing in Kalkar, Germany.
The American international sits 2nd in the European Qualifying School Order of Merit, behind Haupai Puha who will also feature on the PDC Pro Tour for the next two years.
Van Dongen, recently signed to Winmau, suffered a disappointing World Championship debut, but, has responded emphatically in Germany having reached the Last 16 in the 1st Final Stage Qualifying School event, before losing to eventual winner Jelle Klaasen in a last leg decider yesterday in the Semi Finals.
The Winmau player averaged more than the former Lakeside Champion on Friday in Wunderland Kalkar, whilst including 2 successive scores over 93 to defeat Jeroen Mioch and Polish international Krzysztof Kcuik earlier in the tournament.
The American included 94 and 95 averages on Saturday to secure his PDC Tour Card, looking to kick on in the Players Championship competitions which start in the middle of February at Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan.
Van Dongen has enjoyed opportunities within the Professional Darts Corporation having represented the USA with fellow Winmau player Leonard Gates at the 2023 World Cup of Darts, as well as making his debut at the Alexandra Palace at the recent World Darts Championship.
Elsewhere, reigning WDF World Champion Andy Baetens will feature on the PDC Pro Tour for the first time in his career, including a 102.73 average in beating Vitezslav Sedlak 6-3 in the Semi Finals before going on to defeat Poland’s Radek Szaganski 6-5 in the Final of Event 3.
Leighton Bennett came through the Final Stage Event 3 tournament at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes after beating Thomas Cromwell 6-3 in the Final to join Robert Grundy and Steve Lennon in earning a PDC Tour Card.
Boom Boom included an impressive average of 101.40 in beating Scott Winder in the Last 16, before beating Brett Claydon in the Quarters and Kieran Bridgwater in the Semis.
The Final day of action at both Qualifying Schools will see 24 players earn their places on the PDC Pro Tour, with Willie Borland and James Hurrell leading the UK Q School Order of Merit.
Dutch duo Wesley Plaisier and Chris Landman currently occupy qualifying places in the European Qualifying School Order of Merit, with former Ally Pally 9 Dart Hero Darius Labanauskas also in the qualifying positions.
PDC UK Qualifying School: Final Stage (Tournament 3 Results)
Quarter Finals:
Kieran Bridgwater 6-3 Joshua Richardson
Leighton Bennett 6-3 Brett Claydon
Thomas Cromwell 6-4 Darren Webster
Rhys Griffin 6-3 James Beeton
Semi Finals:
Leighton Bennett 6-2 Kieran Bridgwater
Thomas Cromwell 6-4 Rhys Griffin
Final:
Leighton Bennett 6-3 Thomas Cromwell
PDC European Qualifying School: Final Stage Tournament 3 Results
Quarter Finals:
Andy Baetens 6-3 Paul Krohne
Vitezslav Sedlak 6-2 Dominick Gruellich
Radek Szaganski 6-0 Patrick Geeraets
Haupai Puha 6-3 Stefaan Henderyck
Semi Finals:
Andy Baetens 6-3 Vitezslav Sedlak
Radek Szaganski 6-4 Haupai Puha
Final:
Andy Baetens 6-5 Radek Szaganski
—–Ends—–
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