Lockport Union-Sun & Journal Online

November 17, 2009

STEEL DARTS: Schultz wins dart tournament at Newfane Manor

Staff Reports

NEWFANE — Lockport’s Joe Schultz became the latest winner of the monthly steel dart tournaments held at the Newfane Manor.

Schultz was on a tear, winning 10 out of 12 games in the round robin portion of the singles event.

Lockport’s renown Cliff Carlson and Buffalo veteran Owen Stuart were tied after the round robin and needed to participate in a best-of-three tie-breaker to fill the last spot in the top four knock out round.

The top four finishers were Schultz, Stuart, Tonawanda’s John Weinriech and Lockport’s Mike Platt, who organizes the monthly tournaments.

Schultz defeated Weinriech in the semifinals, while Stuart defeated Platt to set up the best-of-five finals. Stuart, who is a former administrator in the Buffalo Area Dart League, was dispatched 0-3 by Schultz.

In a single game of 701 to determine third and fourth place, Platt defeated Wienrich.

In the second event of the day, a Blind Draw Doubles Tournament, after the round robin portion, Platt and fellow Lockportian Tim Andrews won nine out of 15 games, Carlson and Christopher Williams of Buffalo were 9-of-15, Angelo DiGuilio of Buffalo and Schultz were 10-of-15 and past champion Jim Graton of Niagara Falls and Stuart were 13-of-15.

In the knockout round of the Chicago format event, Graton and Stuart defeated Platt and Andrews, while the great Carlson and Williams defeated DiGiulio and Schultz.

In the one game of 701 to determine third and fourth, DiGuilio and Schultz soundly defeated Platt and Andrews. The best-of-five finals was competitive but Graton and Stuart ground out a 3-1 victory over Carlson and Williams.

High dart out went to Stuart with a score of 121. To compliment Joe Schultz’s day, he also won the 50/50 split.

A Singles 501 (open in double out) tournament is at 3 p.m., followed by a Chicago Format Blind Draw that begins at 5:30 p.m.

The entry fee is $10 per player for each event.

“Dart players of all skill levels of are welcome,” Platt said.

“There’s is no better place to learn the skills and develop strategies to play the game of darts.”