BOLTON darts ace Lisa Ashton enjoyed her best performance as a fully-fledged member of the PDC Tour yesterday.

The Lancashire Rose reached the last 16 of a ProTour event for the first time on day three of the PDC Autumn Series in Niedernhausen, Germany.

The 50-year-old, the first woman to win a PDC tour card back in January, enjoyed an excellent run before losing 6-3 to Welshman Nick Kenny.

Kenny, who also won his card at the start of the year, was eliminated by eventual winner Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals.

Ashton opened the day with a 6-3 win over Jamie Hughes in round one, then beating Alan Tabern 6-2 before edging out Croatian Boris Krcmar 6-5.

Kenny proved too good though as he reached his first PDC semi-final in the 16th Players Championship event of the year before coming up against Van Gerwen.

Having suffered a difficult end to his Unibet Premier League campaign as he missed out on the play-offs for the first time, the Dutchman was back to his dominant best, dropping just 13 legs all day.

The world number one began the day with a 6-4 victory against former World Championship runner-up Andy Hamilton, before recording his first of four 100-plus averages in a 6-2 defeat of Reece Robinson.

Whitewash wins against fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode and his day two conqueror Damon Heta were sandwiched either side of a 6-2 victory over Glen Durrant, his first against the Premier League table-topper.

A 7-4 triumph over Kenny saw him progress to the final where he blew away Mensur Suljovic 8-1 to pocket the £10,000 prize.

“You have to play your A-game to win tournaments like this,” said Van Gerwen.

“I had some tough games today. I played Damon Heta again after he beat me yesterday.

“Apart from yesterday, the last few days I have felt a lot more comfortable than I did before.

“Of course it was nice to beat Glen Durrant for first time.

“He’s a phenomenal player but I should have beaten him last time.

“There’s always pressure on my back.

“I didn’t perform how I can in the Premier League but that’s how darts goes sometimes.

“I’m human but I will come back stronger, everyone knows that and I believe in my own ability.”

The PDC Autumn Series continues today with day four as 128 players will once again be battling it out for the title. Watch live at www.pdc.tv