Lennon and Dragt claim first Tour Cards of 2024 Q Schools
Report, Rankings after Day 1
Steve Lennon and Martijn Dragt became the first players to win PDC Tour Cards at the 2024 Qualifying Schools on Thursday.
Former World Cup of Darts runner-up Lennon was victorious at UK Q School in Milton Keynes, while Dragt took the first card at European Q School in Kalkar, Germany.
Lennon, who narrowly lost his Tour Card following the 2023/24 World Darts Championship, won it back at the first time of asking thanks to a succession of strong displays.
The Irishman kicked off the day with a 101.42 average in a 6-2 win over Leighton Bennett, before seeing off Shaun Wilkinson and Brett Claydon to reach the last 16.
There, he came through a dramatic encounter with Matthew Dennant, surviving seven match darts to reach the quarter-finals where he overcame Justin Hood.
Lennon defeated George Killington 6-2 in the semi-finals before coming back from 4-3 down to beat Borland 6-4 and seal his place back on the professional circuit.
Meanwhile, Dragt defeated former Tour Card Holders Jesus Noguera, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Mario Vandenbogaerde on his way to the final. An all-Dutch final saw Chris Landman take a 5-2 lead, before Dragt won four successive legs to win a Tour Card for the first time.
Friday will offer a further chance for players to win Tour Cards, with play commencing at 1300 CET in Kalkar and 1200 GMT in Milton Keynes. In addition to the daily Tour Card winners, a further 23 Tour Cards will be awarded on a pro-rata basis to players from the respective UK/European Qualifying School Final Stage Orders of Merit following Day Four - 13 in Europe, and 10 in the UK.
Highlighted are the places for a Tour Card by the Ranking
Steve Lennon and Martijn Dragt became the first players to win PDC Tour Cards at the 2024 Qualifying Schools on Thursday.
Former World Cup of Darts runner-up Lennon was victorious at UK Q School in Milton Keynes, while Dragt took the first card at European Q School in Kalkar, Germany.
Lennon, who narrowly lost his Tour Card following the 2023/24 World Darts Championship, won it back at the first time of asking thanks to a succession of strong displays.
The Irishman kicked off the day with a 101.42 average in a 6-2 win over Leighton Bennett, before seeing off Shaun Wilkinson and Brett Claydon to reach the last 16.
There, he came through a dramatic encounter with Matthew Dennant, surviving seven match darts to reach the quarter-finals where he overcame Justin Hood.
Lennon defeated George Killington 6-2 in the semi-finals before coming back from 4-3 down to beat Borland 6-4 and seal his place back on the professional circuit.
Meanwhile, Dragt defeated former Tour Card Holders Jesus Noguera, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Mario Vandenbogaerde on his way to the final. An all-Dutch final saw Chris Landman take a 5-2 lead, before Dragt won four successive legs to win a Tour Card for the first time.
Friday will offer a further chance for players to win Tour Cards, with play commencing at 1300 CET in Kalkar and 1200 GMT in Milton Keynes. In addition to the daily Tour Card winners, a further 23 Tour Cards will be awarded on a pro-rata basis to players from the respective UK/European Qualifying School Final Stage Orders of Merit following Day Four - 13 in Europe, and 10 in the UK.
UK Qualifying School Order of Merit after first day
| Rank | Name | Points | Leg-Diff | Legs Won |
| 1 | William Borland | 5 | 13 | 40 |
| 2 | George Killington | 4 | 11 | 32 |
| 3 | Andy Boulton | 4 | 2 | 32 |
| 4 | Justin Hood | 3 | 12 | 27 |
| 5 | Patrick Lynskey | 3 | 10 | 25 |
| 6 | Cameron Crabtree | 3 | 7 | 29 |
| 7 | Shane McGuirk | 3 | 4 | 27 |
| 8 | Matthew Dennant | 2 | 13 | 23 |
| 9 | Justin Smith | 2 | 12 | 23 |
| 10 | Ashley Coleman | 2 | 7 | 22 |
| 11 | Jamess Hurrell | 2 | 6 | 22 |
| 12 | Thomas Lovely | 2 | 5 | 23 |
| 13 | Darren Armstrong | 2 | 5 | 19 |
| 13 | Jamie Atkins | 2 | 4 | 23 |
| 15 | Colin Osborne | 2 | 3 | 19 |
| 16 | Scott Taylor | 1 | 8 | 17 |
| 17 | Jim McEwan | 1 | 7 | 17 |
| 18 | Seane Fisher | 1 | 5 | 17 |
| 19 | Carl Wilson | 1 | 4 | 17 |
| 20 | Lee Cocks | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| 21 | Nick Fullwell | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| 22 | Llew Bevan | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 23 | Conan Whitehead | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| 24 | Richie Burnett | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 25 | Brett Claydon | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 26 | Christopher Harvey | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 27 | Kevin Leadenham | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 28 | Joe Croft | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 29 | Kevin Bruness | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 30 | Jarred Cole | 0 | -1 | 13 |
| 31 | Jonathan Kavanagh | -3 | 12 | 13 |
European Qualifying School Order of Merit after first day
| Rank | Name | Points | Leg-Diff | Legs won |
| 1 | Chris Landman | 5 | 17 | 41 |
| 2 | Mario Vandenbogaerde | 16 | 34 | 35 |
| 3 | Christian Kist | 4 | 8 | 33 |
| 4 | Lukas Wenig | 3 | 12 | 29 |
| 5 | Tomas Houdek | 3 | 9 | 29 |
| 6 | Darius Labanauskas | 3 | 9 | 26 |
| 7 | Wesley Plaisier | 3 | 9 | 25 |
| 8 | Radek Szaganski | 2 | 11 | 23 |
| 9 | Stefan Schroder | 2 | 7 | 22 |
| 10 | Franz Roetzsch | 2 | 7 | 21 |
| 11 | Dragutin Horvat | 2 | 6 | 20 |
| 12 | Jules van Dongen | 2 | 6 | 20 |
| 13 | Laurens Admiraal | 2 | 5 | 22 |
| 13 | Rusty-Jake Rodriguez | 2 | 5 | 22 |
| 15 | Haupai Puha | 2 | 2 | 20 |
| 16 | Thibault Tricole | 1 | 7 | 15 |
| 17 | Jitse van der Wal | 1 | 6 | 17 |
| 18 | Mareno Michels | 1 | 5 | 17 |
| 19 | Ron Meulenkamp | 1 | 5 | 16 |
| 20 | Liam Maendl-Lawrance | 1 | 5 | 15 |
| 21 | Simeon Heinz | 1 | 4 | 14 |
| 22 | Jelle Klaasen | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| 23 | Ryuta Arihara | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 24 | Dennie Olde Kalter | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| 25 | John Michael | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| 26 | Christopher Toonders | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| 27 | Benjamin Reus | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 28 | Christian Goedl | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 29 | Bradley Roes | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 30 | Ricardo Perez-Ibarra | 1 | -1 | 14 |
| 31 | Jody Tobback | 1 | -4 | 3 |
Highlighted are the places for a Tour Card by the Ranking