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 September Bud Pro Tour, everyone back in the bars! The BPT's are held on the last Wednesday of each month, while the ADA Challenges can be any day of the week during the month.
ADA Pros take on challengers in a doubles game of 501. There is no entry fee with prizes awarded throughout the evening. Even though Pros are involved this event is not geared for the best darters. In fact, quite the opposite as this evening is a lot of fun mixed with great competitive darts.
Starting time is 8:00 PM and participants enter with the ADA management team selecting their partner through a draw doubles format. During the two hours of competition any of the teams that defeat the Pros qualify for the 10:00 PM playoff with two grand prizes awarded at the end. Host locations change each month.
Sponsorship of the program comes from the local Anheuser-Busch wholesaler. Unfortunately not all are currently involved in the program so check the “Upcoming Events” section of the ADA home page for the tavern in your market.
September Budweiser Pro Tour Harrisburg PA
Location: Nicks 114
ADA Pros: Mark Fair (21.27) & Robert McCurdy (18.93)
By ADA Division Rep Ray Davis
HARRISBURG, PA- Sorry Pittsburgh, for years the Harrisburg region as well as Central PA has been a hotbed for darts in the ADA and particularly the Steel tip Open Division, the most challenging of all divisions any dart thrower will tell you. For years, not only has this region had success on a local level, but on a national level as well. The 10 Team/Steel Open Division that rivals per-capita anywhere in the country. In all, our quaint little city and region boasts 4 divisions, 33 teams with more to come, and a whole lot of talent.
On this night however, it was our darting city that was playing 'catch up' with the rest of the ADA. For awhile now, I have watched as the rest of the ADA country has hosted time and time again the Budweiser Pro Tour. And though they do not amount to much more usually than a room full of your peers, a few adult beverages, and some good times... they were however good times not being experienced here in this region. This never made sense to me, why an area with strong support for the game and league could not put this together?
Well finally, with new management, and help from so many including a little by yours truly, this event finally came to fruitition. And with it, a couple of Pro's the likes of the Bud Pro Tour, dare I say, have never seen. In a room with 4 boards at Nicks 114 in New Cumberland, PA, fourteen dart throwers showed up for the event to test there hand against the Pro's. In return, the ADA gave us current ADA Mens 501 Pro champion and 2009 Steel Cricket Champion Mark Fair; and Bobby McCurdy Jr. who was a member of the 2009 Team League Steel Open National Champs. What did we get ourselves into?
"I had a blast!" said Bobby McCurdy, one of the Pro's on hand. "I wish there were more people that had come out for it" he added. Only 14 other shooters were on hand, but that's a number we hope to build on.
As the night moved forward, we all realized just how hard of a task this was going to be to beat the Pro's, and to qualify into the brackets for the tournament afterwards. Luckily for us, time was on our side, as we were able to challenge them over and over just hoping for an opportunity to even throw an out shot against them.
Finally, about 30-40 minutes in, Josh Nolen and Dave Demler were able to sneak by the Pro's Fair and McCurdy as Nolen had a chance at an out and didn't miss. For awhile it looked as though they might win by default as nobody was qualifying after them, but shortly thereafter a string of wins added a couple more teams to the mix; John 'Slim' Mintzer and Dave Carmine broke the draught, followed immediately after by Ryan Davis and Greg Gerstner.
The last team to make it in at the end of the 2 hour qualifying period was Don 'Grim' Reeser (a Pro himself, and always the life of the party might I add) with his partner and League Manager Duane Rider.
At this point, the Pro's night were done, and we went into a double elimination bracket from there. And when the smoke cleared, Josh Nolen and Dave Demler, the first team to knock off the Fair and McCurdy were the last men standing!
1st Place- Josh Nolen/Dave Demler
2nd Place- Don Reeser/Duane Rider
Top 4- John Mintzer/Dave Carmine
Top 4- Ryan Davis/Greg Gerstner
Lastly, I just want to thank the ADA, Duane Rider, Nick and Nicks Cafe 114 for hosting, Donny Reeser, Dave Carmine, Eric Fee of Wilsbach, Budweiser, and everyone else I am forgetting who put their respective blood, sweat and tears into this such as myself. This was a success I feel on many levels. Number one, in promoting the sport; for example, two of the throwers last night are not currently in any dart leagues and who knows may join or join and bring even more people into it! And number two; in that it was a fun, profitable, positive experience where old friends competed, and new friendships were forged.
Moving forward we look optimistically at the prospects of having a Pro Shoot in the Harrisburg region EVERY MONTH! And in doing so, we graciously invite you to join us if ever in the area during said events. We look to continue to grow here in Harrisburg, and we take pride in something that is greater than ourselves in our Division... and that is Sportsmanship. You will find leagues in the US with better throwers perhaps, and more throwers, most certainly, but you'll never find a league as close knit as the Tuesday Night Open throwers of Central PA or that of our brothers and sisters in the other divisions.
Shoot well, but more importantly, have fun.
WEDNESDAYS PARTICIPANTS AT NICKS
Mark Fair *
Bobby McCurdy Jr. *
Donald Reeser *
John 'Slim' Mintzer
Duane Rider
Ryan Davis
Steve Ganser
Matt Weller
Rodney Bucher Jr.
Pete Conner
Greg Gerstner
Josh Nolen $
Dave Demler #$
Dan Swietzer
Wes Mohler #
Dave Carmine
$-Pro Shoot Winners
*-ADA Pros
#-Non ADA Member
SCHEDULE OF ADA EVENTS TO COME IN HARRISBURG REGION
*November 25th, 2009- ADA Bud Pro Shoot #3- ROOKIE'S, 2238 DERRY ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17104
*December 30th, 2009- ADA Bud Pro Shoot #4- NICK'S 114, 114 BRIDGE ST, NEW CUMBERLAND, PA 17070
September Budweiser Pro Tour Holly Hill FL
Location: American Legion Post #120
ADA Pros: Chris Ridley (21.47) & Debbie Sapp (14.60)
By ADA Franchise Owner Pete Musslewhite
This month's Bud Pro Tour was held at the American Legion Post #120 in Holly Hill. Competitors were drawn as partners and played games of 501, any in double out, against two of the local ADA Pros Chris Ridley and Debbie Sapp. Two teams managed to beat the pros and played off for premiums supplied by our friends at Daytona Beverages. Other prizes were given away in the free raffle, and anyone who sampled a Budweiser American Ale received a free American Ale pint glass. Thanks to the American Legion for hosting this event, Daytona Beverages for their support, and to all who attended and had a good time. Look for the November location TBA
September ADA Challenge O'Fallon MO
Location: Bottoms Up Brewhouse
ADA Pro: Paul Schaeffler (24.44) & ADA Rep Karl Remick (20.00)
By ADA Employee Tiffany Paschedag
For the St. Charles area month of September Bottoms Up Brewhouse in O'Fallon hosted the ADA Dart Challenge. ADA Pro Paul Schaeffler and ADA Rep Karl Remick took on all challengers as ADA Pro Deb Kornmann was unable to attend the tour. The night was very successful for the two as they went undefeated! Playing 14 matches and not losing 1!
"It was a great night throwing with Karl and not losing one. I didnt know he had anything left in the tank", added Paul.
A special thanks for Mike owner of the Bottoms Up Brewhouse and Krey Distributing for all the great giveaways!
Continue to check the ADA web site for Novembers Bud Pro Tour in St. Charles area.
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