When most of his friends are doing schoolwork, 17-year-old Joey Lynaugh spends most of his Monday nights at Bridie's Bar in Rego Park. The 17-year-old from Middle Village plays darts there with adults in a local darts league.

"I do routines. Like, I'll throw at the 20s. I’ll throw at the bullseye. I'll throw at 19 and I just keep doing it," said Lynaugh.

He started playing darts competitively in June, only six months after playing for the first time in a charity darts competition organized by his dad.

"I said, 'You can play in the tournament,' I said, 'but you have to practice.' You know, there's all adults playing in it, you'll be the only kid," said Tom Lynaugh, Joey’s dad.

Joey did decent in the tournament but enjoyed darts so much, he kept on practicing and eventually joined his dad playing at local league matches.

"He’s my teammate. Him and I play doubles together, and he pretty much carries me through the dart night," said one of the league darts players.

"It’s a 17-year-old we’re never going to beat, and that’s frustrating," said another.

Joey also traveled to Canada for a youth darts competition and finished a surprising second.

"Everybody said, 'Where did this kid come from? Why don’t we know him?'" said Joey’s dad.

His strong showing encouraged Joey keep on practicing and playing. He soon found himself ranked as one of the top youth players in America, earning a spot at the Junior World Darts Championship in Bristol, England in December.

"When I first got there, I was a little nervous. I’m going to play against some of the best in the world," Joey said. 

Joey didn't win, but he finished among the top 16 players between 8 and 18 in the world. 

Largely a backyard pastime in the U.S., darts is big business in Europe, where tournaments can offer top prizes of up to $500,000.  

Even if he never makes a dime, Joey's mother Jeanine says the entire family has enjoyed the ride.

"I look at my husband and say, 'Is this real? Are we really going to England and our son is taking us there because of darts?'" Jeanine Lynaugh said.  

For now, Joey's focused on graduating from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School this spring and heading off to college. Wherever he goes, he said he does see darts as part of his future.