DARREN Penhall claimed a hat-trick of titles to secure the inaugural Simon Whitlock Trophy on the latest weekend of DPA Pro Tour action in Victoria.
Australia’s top stars battled it out in a new series of five knockout events – honouring Australia’s World Cup winner Whitlock – from April 28-30 at the Geelong Greyhound Club.
Penhall and Mal Cuming claimed two titles apiece to set up a fascinating finale on Sunday, and the pair collided in a dramatic decider, with Penhall running out an emphatic 5-2 winner.
Cuming prevailed in Friday’s opener, dumping out Joe Comito and Penhall in the latter stages of Event Nine, before demolishing Brody Klinge 5-1 to clinch his second DPA Pro Tour title of 2023.
Penhall then stormed to Event Ten glory in the second of the weekend’s tournaments, posting a ton-plus average to defeat Brandon Weening 5-3 in a high-quality final.
The 50-year-old continued his charge with Event 11 success, recording 5-3 wins over Event Nine runner-up Klinge and former World Series qualifier Tic Bridge to set up a showdown against Cuming.
Former Tour Card Holder Penhall recovered from 3-1 down to deny Cuming in a last-leg shoot-out, producing a terrific mid-match burst which featured an 11-darter and a 101 checkout.
Cuming maintained his title hopes with victory in Sunday’s Event 12, following up a deciding-leg win over Gordon Mathers with a 5-1 demolition of Comito, who accounted for Penhall in the semi-finals.
Penhall and Cuming then eased through to the Event 13 decider to set up a winner-takes-all clash, and Penhall sealed the deal in style, reeling off four consecutive legs from 2-1 adrift to lift the title.
The next weekend of DPA Pro Tour action will be held from May 26-28, with Events 14-17 and Qualifier Three for the New South Wales Darts Masters taking place in Warilla.
The DPA Pro Tour will be broadcast around the world in 2023, with matches from the last 16 onwards in each DPA Pro Tour event streamed live on PDCTV.
2023 DPA Pro Tour
Friday April 28
Geelong Greyhound Club
Event Nine Final
Mal Cuming 5-1 Brody Klinge
Saturday April 29
Event Ten Final
Darren Penhall 5-3 Brandon Weening
Event 11 Final
Darren Penhall 5-4 Mal Cuming
Sunday April 30
Event 12 Final
Mal Cuming 5-1 Joe Comito
Event 13 Final
Darren Penhall 5-2 Mal Cuming
—–ENDS—–
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