2022 Darts Australian Pacific Masters

On Sunday, the 7th of August, Darts Australia hosted the 2022 Pacific Masters. The Pacific Masters is a one-day event with hundreds of matches being played with some of the best players in the world coming up against some of Australia’s finest players, both young and ‘young at heart’.

In the men’s competition, WDF #1 Neil Duff played WDF New Zealand #1 and Runner-up of the Darts Australian Open, Haupai Puha. Duff had to face some tough challenges such as Mitchell Clegg, a close game against Justin Thompson (Final score 4-3) and Mal Cuming. Puha came up against Stewart Smith, Gary Kennedy and Bailey Marsh.

Duff started the game well, winning the first leg. Puha scored a 13 darter in the next to make it 1-1. From there Duff was just too good against Puha, winning four legs in a row. Puha did earn one back in leg seven, but by then the lead was too great. Duff won the next to lift the trophy and earn another piece of silverware to his growing list.

Neil Duff holds up the 2022 Darts Australia Pacific Masters Men’s trophy.

In the women’s competition, 2019 Australian Darts Open winner Lisa Ashton played WDF Australian #1 Tori Kewish. Getting to the finals for Ashton was no easy task. She defeated Sarah Harrison, won a close game against Lavinia Hogg (Final score 3-2), beat WDF New Zealand #3 Desi Mercer and most impressive of all, pipped fellow country women and WDF #1 Beau Greaves in a 4-3 thriller in the Semi-Final. Kewish defeated Kayleigh Pickett, beat Lyn Morrison, won a tight contest against WDF New Zealand #1 Wendy Harper and beat WDF #3 Kristy Hutchingson.

Ashton came into the game full of confidence, and it showed in her playing. Ashton hit the ground running winning the first set, and continued from there. Kewish, unfortunately, came up short in the final. Despite winning leg 2, Kewish was unable to find the form she had in the other finals, as Ashton came out victorious with a 5-1 win.