The Great White Blog

Up early and practicing by 7am on Friday morning, the darts were feeling good but as we all know that could mean nothing.  I got down to the dart hall at 9am to draw for my group and to begin my quest for my 4th National Title.  First up in my group was the always tough Davis Snider who I managed to beat 2-1.  Next up was fellow 3-times US National champion Tim Grossman who I beat 3-0.  Having beat who I thought would be the two strongest guys in my group, I felt good about getting out of the group, which I was able to do with a 14-1 record.  Onto the knock out round where I drew my partner for the weekend, Sean Downs.  I was able to pull of a hard fought 3-1 victory.  Next was Matt Malone in the top 8 who last year won the LVO men's cricket singles, however, I was able to win 3-0.  To be fair to Matt he never really got going.  Semi finals I was up against US #1 Darin Young again.  The format was now the best of 7 and I was able to race out to a 3-0 lead.  Darin took the next two but I was able to close it out 4-2.  In the finals, I played Jerry Van Loan who had breezed through his half of the draw beating Jimmy Wid in the semis 4-0 so I knew it was going to be a battle.  I started off slow going down 2-0 then coming back to level 2-2.  Down 3-2 but managing to win the last two legs for a 4-3 victory!  The record was mine!!

Winning the 4th National Title was something I really wanted as it now gives me more than any other American surpassing Paul Lim and Tim Grossman with their three titles.

Saturday morning was a start of the LVO for me and in the doubles events, Sean and I didn't cash in either event but I felt we deserved better with our play. In the mixed doubles Brenda and I managed to cash in one of the events.  In the cricket singles I had a good run going but lost in the top 8 to Bill Davis in a close third leg.  In the 501 singles I lost once again to Hong Kong's Royden Lam in the top 16 who went on to take out buddies Ron Colvard and John Part but losing in the finals to Bill Davis.  The weekend started out great with my National Title win but I was disappointed with the LVO results.