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Efter Edges Out Wethington
PDC / Bull’s-Eye News Official Event Report
April 02, 2006
JOE EFTER won 4-3 against Brad Wethington in a final leg shoot-out to become the 11th Qualifier for the World Series of Darts.
Efter took victory in the penultimate pre-qualifying event for the Mohegan Sun tournament, coming from behind in a tense final in Ronkonkoma.
Wethington - who joined Efter in playing in his third and final pre-qualifier - took an early 2-0 lead in the final before missed doubles cost him the chance to extend the advantage.
He won the fourth leg with his fourth dart at a double to go 3-1 up, but Efter again hit back to take the next leg, before sealing a crucial 100 checkout to level the match - with Wethington sat on double top. Efter was first to the double in the deciding leg, and nailed double five with his third dart to secure a place in the World Series of Darts.
"It was exciting and nerve racking," said Efter. "This is the first win for me over Brad and he had his chances to win the match, but when he missed his double, I just took what was given to me.
"I have a lot of respect for Brad and for all the other competitors who have come out and competed in each of these qualifiers.
"It takes an awful lot to maintain your focus and will to win for such a long day."
He will now join 15 other Americans in challenging for a $1 million first prize at the Mohegan Sun next month against the PDC's top 16.
"I've been looking forward to taking on the PDC top guns since I first heard of the World Series of Darts," he added.
"I'm thrilled to have the chance to come up against the world's best.
"Just to be part of something this big is something I've dreamed about since the first I heard of it and I'm glad to be part of it."
Wethington will now join the other hopefuls trying to win one of the four final qualifying spots reserved for Friday Night Madness on 19 May at the Mohegan Sun.
"He played good and he took advantage of my mistakes," Wethington admitted. "I shouldn't have missed my doubles but I relaxed and let him back in.
"I guess I'm going to the Friday Night Madness in Connecticut - I think I can manage to hit a 12-darter to get into the knockout. Then we'll see about getting to the stage."
There was further disappointment for two-time World Championship qualifier Darin Young, who lost out to Wethington at the semi-final stage alongside another top seed, Davis Snider.
Qualifier Eleven - Ronkonkoma, NY: Results
Winner: Joe Efter (Danielson, CT)
Runner-Up: Brad Wethington (St Louis, MO)
Semi-Finalists: Davis Snider (Arlington, TX), Darin Young (Freeland, PA)
Quarter-Finalists: Timothy O'Gorman (Bohemia, NY), Antonio Roman (New York, NY), George Timpone (Bloomingdale, NJ), Richard Espinoza (Northfield, MN)
Last 16: Corey Charles Jewett (Hawthorne, NJ), Bill Cross Jr (Dover, DE), Mike Brewer (Omaha, NE), Dave Marienthal (Bloomingdale, NJ), Rob Petelin (Holbrook, NY), Dave Lambert (Lowville, NY), Russ Jasinski (Philadelphia, PA), Jim Newman (Bensalem, PA)
BEN Pro Ranked Top Seeds In Attendance:
1st seed - Darin Young - Freeland, PA
2nd seed - Davis Snider - Arlington, TX
3rd seed - Jerry Van Loan - Kingston, NY
4th seed - Brad Wethington - St. Louis, MO
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