Beal beats Norman in all-East Sussex Masters final
IT WAS an all-East Sussex final on the opening day of the Cuestars Masters Tour at Woking Snooker Centre.
Ashley Beal earned bragging rights over his clubmate Andy Norman with a 2-0 victory to clinch the first leg of the Snooker Hub-sponsored midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over.
The former English Over-55s Champion from Maresfield took the first frame on the black but won the next quite comfortably to collect the £80 prize.
Both first-time finalists are based at the Castle Snooker Club, Brighton
Home player Gavin Bolsover and David Moritz (Pinner) made their Masters debuts.
The high-quality field recorded 13 breaks of 40 or more.
John Hunter (Andover) and Phil Butler (Bournemouth), who finished last season ranked first and second respectively, made semi-final exits.
Organisers thanked hosts Woking SC and Masters player Dennis Tristram (Croxley Green, Herts) for sponsoring the event.
Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the second leg of ten on Wednesday, October 9.
To find out more the amateur game, visit snookerhub.co.uk.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 68, 44.
Ashley Beal: 67, 49, 45, 41.
Gavin Bolsover: 52, 45, 45.
David Moritz: 52, 41.
Al Maher: 47.
Dennis Tristram: 43.
RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Ashley Beal (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Gavin Bolsover (Woking SC); 4th, Kevin Morris (Woking SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Phil Butler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Al Maher (Frames, Coulsdon); 2nd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Mark Burrell (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club).
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 10 pts): Hunter 2-1 Tristram, Norman 2-0 Moritz, Butler 2-0 Thomas, Beal 2-0 Maher.
SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Norman 2-1 Hunter, Beal 2-0 Butler.
FINAL (£80/£40, 25/18 pts): Beal 2-0 Norman.