By Paul Woodage
LISA Ashton came through a high class field to book her place in the BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts for the second successive year.
The Lancashire Rose saved her best performance for last as she whitewashed Corrine Hammond 5-0 in the final. An incredibly strong line featuring the very best female players on the planet congregated in Barnsley ahead of a busy weekend of qualifiers.
There was just one Grand Slam place on offer and Ashton dropped just six legs over the entire day in an extremely impressive and dominant display of darts.
The four times Lakeside World Champion brushed aside her opponents including Fallon Sherrock’s twin sister Felicia as she hunted for that golden ticket. In the semi final Ashton overcame veteran Deta Hedman before demolishing Australia’s Connnie Hammond to seal her Grand Slam spot.
The Aussie secured her place in the final with superb last leg deciders against much-fancied Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock in her quarter finals and semi final respectively but didn’t get a look in against a bang in form Ashton.
It’s now back to back appearances in the Grand Slam for Lisa who will be desperate to improve on last year’s tournament debut where she lost all three of her group games.
All the ladies now go again for the remainder of the weekend where they will be playing for two places at the 2021 William Hill World Darts Championships.
Pictures by Taylor Lanning.