Team USA wins team event at WDF America’s Cup in Tampa, FL

Team USA, consisting of Sandy Hudson, Tom Sawyer, Brenda Roush, Jim Widmayer and Manager David Hascup(left to right), were victorious in the team event at the 2014 WDF America’s Cup event.  Team USA started off the tournament beating Brazil by a score of 12-1 in the first round of the round robin portion of the team event.  In round 2, they white washed Belize 13-0.  Round 3 was played the following day.  They defeated Trinidad and Tobago 13-0 to give team USA first place for the group.  With 2 groups, and 2 teams from each group making the knockout portion, team USA would face group 2 runner up, Barbados in the semi-finals.  They defeated Barbados 9-1.  In the other semi-final match, our neighbors from above, Canada, defeated  Trinidad and Tobago by a score of 9-1.  In the finals team USA defeated team Canada by a score of 8-3.

In the singles event, all four American’s won their first 2 rounds of play.  Jim Widmayer lost to eventual men’s singles runner-up, Romwell Tagalog of the Cayman Islands, in the 3rd round by a score of 3-2.  Tom Sawyer won his 3rd round and then lost to Romwell in the semi-finals by a score of 3-1.  Dave Cameron of Canada won the event.

Both American women won their 3rd round, but lost in the semi-finals to Joanne Luke and Cindy Veith, both from Canada.  Joanne Luke won the event.

I would like to send out a special thanks to the Florida Dart Association for their help in setting up the event.  Stephanie Mincey did 95% of the work.  Thank you.

Youth Event and lack of ADO Team:
It was quite embarrassing for me to be there as president of the ADO and not have a youth team.  I had to answer these same questions that are being asked on social media and emails during the WDFARC general meeting.  The ADO does not have a system in place for a youth player to qualify for the America’s Cup.  I also did not know of a youth event as it is not listed in the current by-laws on the WDF website.

I personally found out on May 31, 2014.  This was way to late in the year to run a qualifier.  I had thought about asking Florida to send 2 youth players, but then others around the country would have complained about that.  Wondering why Florida was able to choose the team.  Thinking back, I should have gone this route, knowing people would complain no matter what we decided to do, but at least we would have had a youth team.

Both those issues are being addressed.  I notified the WDF America’s Region Council that the information posted on the WDF website is from 2008.  There was not a youth event at that time.

We are also in the process of figuring out how we can to have a youth team, type of qualifier, location, entry fee, etc etc.  This event will run on even years, earlier in the calendar and will be subject to age restrictions.

Regards,
David Hascup
ADO President

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