Austen books Gold Tour spot with 62 break

A SILVER Tour player is already assured of a Gold Tour spot next season.

Austen Petty earned promotion to the top flight with a 62 break against Charlie Gray last Saturday in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

A key shot was smashing the pack from the blue spot. The break ended when the cue-ball followed a long red into the right-hand black corner pocket.

Twice an Under-13 Premier champion, the 15-year-old, whose previous personal best was 56, has yet to claim the Under-18 crown.

But he now leads Luke Beebe by three points after nine weeks’ play. Former league leader Dan Sykes lost top spot as he was competing on the EASB Regional Junior Tour in Gloucester. He has seven weeks to regain the lead.

Petty, who is sponsored by The Oddfellows friendly society, won the Cuestars Bronze Tour Championship in 2012 and he also competes on the EASB Regional Junior Tour.

Recently, he took up billiards and turns out for Chandlers Ford Central Club in the Southampton & District Billiards & Snooker Association.

Picture by Tim Dunkley