Hunter claims Masters title

JOHN Hunter saved his best until last to clinch the Cuestars Masters (55+) Tour rankings title.

The 55-year-old from Andover won the second and last leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club without dropping a frame.

Hunter now has an unassailable lead in the rankings with one Seniors (40+) event remaining. (The Masters rankings include points earned by over-55 players on the Seniors Tour.)

The former Seniors Tour champion fired in a 53 break in the opening frame of his 2-0 victory over Steve Ashton (Salisbury) in the final.

“I played my best snooker in the final,” he said.

Hunter, who pocketed £60 in prize money, won his round-robin group and overcame Paul Burt (Salisbury) in the last-four.

In the second semi, Ashton beat home player Phil Morgan 2-0.

BREAKS

John Hunter: 53, 41.
Steve Ashton: 39.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Jeff Payne (West Byfleet Social Club); 4th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Phil Morgan (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Andrew Darken (Chertsey SSNR Club); 4th, David Brock (Exeter SC); 5th, David Tuckett (Allstars Sports Bar, Bristol).

SEMI-FINALS (15 pts): Hunter 2-0 Burt, Ashton 2-0 Morgan.

FINAL (£60/£30, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-0 Ashton.

Picture: John Hunter (left) and Steve Ashton.