Mears claims Regional Amateur Tour thriller
ALDERSHOT hotshot Ryan Mears claimed victory in the first EASB Regional Amateur Tour event at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.
The 22-year-old wrapped up a 3-1 win against former PIOS player Charlie Walters (Kent) with a 68 break in the Southern section final.
At 1-1, Mears rode his luck in the third frame. Trailing by 19 points with 18 on, he left the blue over a corner pocket.
Amazingly, Walters missed the blue. Mears laid a tricky snooker behind the black, which his opponent failed to escape from, and cleared for 2-1.
A strong field contained three English Amateur last-32 qualifiers: Ben Harrison, Zac Richardson and Walters.
In the group stages, Mears lost 3-0 to Richardson (Sussex) but polished off Jack Mitchell with a 75 clearance in the third frame of a 3-0 success.
Harrison (Westbury) lost 2-1 to Walters and Michael Day in the toughest group.
Danny Tallentire (Westbury) went out 3-1 to Walters in the quarter-finals.
Mears saw off Richardson 3-2 in the last-eight and Grant Cole (Plymouth) 3-2 from 2-0 down in the semis.