Puha and Teinaka capture titles at WDF New Zealand Open

Haupai Puha and Mary-Anne Teinaki secured a starting spot for the 2024 WDF World Cup last weekend by taking the titles at the New Zealand Open.

Puha proved the best of the bunch in a field of 2019 players and took the eighth WDF title of his career with a victory over Darren Herewini.

Puha, winner of the previous two WDF events in New Zealand this year, raced to a 3-0 lead in the final with fine finishes. Herewini did get on the scoreboard in the fourth leg with a 16-darter, but he could not reduce the deficit any further. Puha grabbed another three legs in a row to take a 6-1 victory with three 180s to his name and an average of 91.43.

With this victory, Puha rises to third place in the WDF men's rankings and secures a place at Lakeside for the third consecutive year.

The Women's New Zealand Open was the third event with gold status on the 2023 WDF women's calendar. This produced another Lakeside debutant.

Mary-Anne Teinaki followed in the footsteps of Amanda Loch and Noa-Lynn van Leuven by winning the women's tournament through a victory over Australian number one Kym Mitchell in the final.