Lisa Ashton & Deta Hedman shared victories on the opening day of the PDC Women’s Series in Barnsley.
A series of four events, each worth £5,000 in prize money, are being held at the Barnsley Metrodome across the weekend, with the top two players from the final Order of Merit securing William Hill World Darts Championship places.
The wins for Ashton and Hedman put them in prime position to claim places at Alexandra Palace in December, although last year’s history-making qualifier Fallon Sherrock sits just £50 behind Ashton going into the second day.
PDC Tour Card Holder Ashton took the Event One title as she followed up Friday night’s qualification for the BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts with a dominant display.
Ashton dropped only two legs in her first five games to reach the final, although Sherrock edged the early exchanges to lead 2-1.
Ashton then checked out 95 and 170 – for a 12-darter – to move ahead, and after Sherrock levelled in leg six it was the four-time Women’s World Champion who took out 120 and 100 for further 12-dart legs as she raced to victory.
Australia’s Corinne Hammond ended Ashton’s hopes in the last 32 of Event Two, with experienced Hedman capitalising to claim the £1,000 title.
Hedman saw off Anastasia Dobromyslova in her second game of the event and also recorded three whitewash victories before enjoying a 5-1 semi-final success against Sherrock.
Aileen de Graaf came from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 and 5-3 in the final, but the leading Dutch ace was unable to close out the win as Hedman showed her experience to battle back and win the deciding leg.
Sherrock’s two semi-finals on the day leave her in third place on the Order of Merit, and she also had the unique experience of taking on twin sister Felicia in the Event One quarter-finals, claiming a 4-0 win.
Hedman leads the Order of Merit with £1,400, with Ashton on £1,050 and Sherrock on £1,000. De Graaf sits in fourth place with £650, ahead of Joanne Locke and Lorraine Winstanley (both £500) after they each reached one semi-final on Saturday.
Sunday’s second day of action will see Events Three & Four take place at the Barnsley Metrodome, with selected matches as well as the semi-finals and final being streamed in PDCTV at video.pdc.tv.
PDC Women’s Series
Saturday October 17, Barnsley Metrodome
Event One
Quarter-Finals
Lisa Ashton 4-0 Louise Pearson
Joanne Lock 4-3 Beau Greaves
Deta Hedman 4-1 Corinne Hammond
Fallon Sherrock 4-0 Felicia Blay
Semi-Finals
Lisa Ashton 5-1 Joanne Locke
Fallon Sherrock 5-4 Deta Hedman
Final
Lisa Ashton 6-3 Fallon Sherrock
Event Two
Quarter-Finals
Aileen de Graaf 4-0 Tracey Davies
Lorraine Winstanley 4-1 Annmarie Potts
Deta Hedman 4-0 Vicky Pruim
Fallon Sherrock 4-1 Donna Gleed
Semi-Finals
Aileen de Graaf 5-3 Lorraine Winstanley
Deta Hedman 5-1 Fallon Sherrock
Final
Deta Hedman 6-5 Aileen de Graaf
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