Big hitters serve up a treat in Fareham
FOUR centuries and 22 other breaks of 50 or more were recorded by a 16-strong quality field at the Fareham Snooker Club Pro-Am.
Chandler’s Ford’s Nick Jennings snatched the high-break prize with a 114 in a 4-3 final defeat by Londoner Ryan Causton (pictured left).
And Marchwood star Billy Castle’s semi-final defeat featured a 50-plus break in each of the six frames.
Tournament director Colin Norton said: “It was fascinating to watch. The quality was excellent.”
The 46-year-old added: “It’s a different game now. Older players like myself are having to adjust or try to bring them down. Younger players just want to be unleashed and get the frame finished in one visit.”
In the first round, Shane Castle, 14, from Marchwood, kicked off a remarkable day with a 105, his 25th ton, in the opening frame against Hedge End 16-year-old Jordan Winbourne – and lost 4-2.
Billy Castle, 20, missed a black on 96 against Paul Oatley (Isle of Wight) and Mike Finn accounted for former professional Steve Ventham, who was runner-up to John Parrott in the 1983 Junior Pot Black final.
Jennings and Causton both recorded runs of 112 in the last-eight.
Billy Castle’s 83 and 76 were not enough to see off Causton, who compiled breaks of 61, 56, 56 and 52 in his 4-2 semi-final victory.
“It was a great match,” declared Castle. “It was a brilliant tournament. I had some tough matches but it was an enjoyable day.
In the final, Jennings took his eye off an easy pink in the third frame and Causton helped himself to an 84 and a 2-1 lead.
After sharing the next two, Jennings leveled with a 114 to take the high-break prize of £25 outright
Although Causton prevailed 4-3, Jennings, 21, said: “I played some lovely stuff. The best bit was the 114 I had to nick the high-break prize.”
Norton, who refereed the final, said: “I knew it could go all the way but I knew it wouldn’t take too long. It was all done in an hour and a half. I certainly wasn’t bored.”
Reflecting on the day, Norton said: “It was fantastic to be around. It was a cracking day.
“The plan is to do this every two months. Southampton was very well represented. It would be nice to see some players from Portsmouth actually grow a pair and have a go at the tournament rather than just try to be number one in their own club.”
RESULTS (BREAKS)
Last 16: Lawrence Millington (Bournemouth) 4-0 Dan Webb (Bournemouth), Colin Norton (Gosport) 4(78, 56)-0 Iain Smith (Gosport), Nick Jennings (Chandler’s Ford) 4(62)-2(51) Ricky Norris (Hornchurch), Adam Bobat (Fareham) 4(68)-0 Mickey Mo (Portsmouth), Ryan Causton (London) 4-1 Sean Reeves (London), Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) 4-2(105) Shane Castle (Marchwood), Billy Castle (Marchwood) 4(96)-0 Paul Oatley (Isle of Wight), Mike Finn (Eastleigh) 4(86, 61)-1 Steve Ventham (London).
Quarter-finals: Norton 4-1 Millington, Jennings 4(112)-1 Bobat, Causton 4(112)-0 Winbourne, B Castle 4(78)-3(50) Finn.
Semi-finals (£25): Jennings 4(87, 64)-1(74) Norton, Causton 4(61, 56, 56, 52)-2(83, 76) B Castle.
Final (£150/£75): Causton 4(84, 65, 52)-3(114) Jennings.
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