Hunter bidding for sixth Masters title
JOHN Hunter launched his bid for a sixth successive Cuestars Masters Tour title in Newbury.
The 59-year-old from Andover clinched the first leg of the midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over at The Crucible Sports & Social Club.
Hunter pocketed the £80 first prize after beating Colin Norton (Gosport) 2-1 in the final of the event sponsored by Cuestars member Dennis Tristram.
The finalists had qualified from the same round-robin group that also contained debutant Paul Stockwell. Tough start for the Watford cueist.
Hunter said: “Colin was in fine break-making form and I needed some good run of the balls to beat him in the two games we played.”
Norton posted six breaks of more than 50 during the competition, including the day’s highest of 82.
Tristram (Croxley Green) and Mark Burrell (Swindon) made the semis.
Richard Martin (Southampton) also made his debut.
Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the second leg of eight on Wednesday, October 8.
BREAKS
Colin Norton: 82, 66, 65, 64, 63, 52.
John Hunter: 70.
Neil Carroll: 53.
Dennis Tristram: 53.
Steve Ashton: 52.
Mark Thomas: 47.
David Moritz: 40
RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Colin Norton (Stoke SC, Gosport); 3rd, Paul Stockwell (Shots, Watford); 4th, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 2nd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC); 4th, Richie Martin (Chandlers Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club); 2nd, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Gavin Bolsover (Woking SC); 4th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Mark Burrell (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford).
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 10 pts): Hunter 2-0 Norman, Tristram 2-1 Carroll, Burrell 2-0 Moritz, Norton 2-0 Darken.
SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 Tristram, Norton 2-0 Burrell.
FINAL (£80/£40, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-1 Norton.
Picture: John Hunter (left) and Colin Norton