Keelan wins inaugural Torbay Open title at the Galaxy

PLYMOUTH teenager Keelan Kay had the distinction of becoming the inaugural winner of the Torbay Open which was contested at the Galaxy Centre, Torquay.

The early stages were played as a round robin and Keelan went through without dropping a single leg winning all seven matches 3-0.

In the last 32 he faced Somerset’s Dean Lewer but his experience counted for nothing as the Lord of the Board progressed with a 3-1 victory.

Devon youth player Pacey Large was dispatched 3-0 in the round of 16 before Keelan produced his best performance of the day.

Up against Torquay’s Laz Amner, for a place in the last four, Keelan won 3-0 in 16, 11 and 14, finishing the third leg in two darts from 96 and posting the day's top average of 109.97.

With the rounds now becoming harder Keelan had to play the county veteran of 158 Devon appearances Andy Steed for a place in the final.

Kay trailed 1-0 and 2-1 but the scoreline stood at 3-3 before the young pretender clinched it when finishing on the bull for a checkout of 121.

Torquay’s Ross Godfrey had got through to the final in the other half of the draw but looking assured and confident Keelan raced into a 3-0 lead.

Godfrey pulled one back before the next two were shared but Keelan made no mistake in the next and ran out a popular winner to claim the inaugural Torbay Open title.