Hunter overcomes nemesis on Masters Tour
FOUR-time and defending champion John Hunter has “finally” overcome his nemesis on the Cuestars Masters Tour.
The 58-year-old from Andover pocketed £70 in prize money after beating Karl Townsend 2-0 to clinch the second leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.
Townsend (Northolt) had faced Hunter in four previous finals on the Snooker Hub-sponsored midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over – and won them all.
Neither player had a smooth journey to the final. Townsend managed to prevail 2-0 against Dennis Tristram in the round-robin group stage despite his opponent from Croxley Green chalking up breaks of 50 and 45 while Hunter lost to Townsend in his opening match.
Hunter said: “It was nice to finally get a win over Karl.”
Townsend defeated leg-one runner-up Andy Norman (Brighton) 2-0 in the last-four. Hunter beat David Moritz (Pinner) by the same score in the second semi.
Organisers thanked Chandlers Ford SC for hosting the event and Tristram for refereeing the final.
Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the third leg of ten on Wednesday, November 6.
To find out more the amateur game, visit snookerhub.co.uk.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 61, 45, 43.
Dennis Tristram: 50, 45.
Karl Townsend: 49, 48.
Andy Norman: 49, 40.
David Moritz: 43, 42.
RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 2nd, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Kevin Morris (Woking SC); 4th, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 5th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Karl Townsend (Rickmansworth RBL); 2nd, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Gavin Bolsover (Woking SC); 4th, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 5th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Phil Butler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club).
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 10 pts): Moritz 2-1 Bolsover, Hunter 2-0 Butler, Townsend 2-0 Morris, Norman 2-0 Ashton.
SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 Moritz, Townsend 2-1 Norman.
FINAL (£70/£40, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-0 Townsend.
Picture: Karl Townsend (left) and John Hunter