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FAREHAM’S James Budd moved closer to promotion to the country’s elite under-21 tour after a second tournament win this season on the feeder circuit.
The 19-year-old’s victory in the fourth leg of six at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury, took him top of the EASB Regional Junior Tour South rankings.
A 2-0 win in the final over “one of my best mates on and off the tour” earned the Fareham Snooker Club-based teenager £120.
He now faces trips to Coulsdon in May and Woking in June in a bid to join his former clubmate Mark Lloyd, from Stoke SC, Gosport, on the EASB Premier Junior Tour, the circuit restricted to England’s top-49 under-21s.
Budd admitted he struggled through the group stages, qualifying in third place. In the knockout, he accounted for Evan Plummer (London) 2-0, Lennard Cripps (London) 2-1, Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) 2-0 and Brad Chappell (Poole) 2-0 in the final.
The left-hander, who is fourth on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour, said: “I didn’t play brilliant in the groups but then when it came to the knockout stages I felt that I needed to push on more.
“In the final Brad had chances but I managed to punish him. Brad is one of my best mates on and off the tour and recently I’ve beaten him the last four times.
“I felt confident and believed in myself that I can play against players like him as he’s a class player when he gets going.”
The fifth leg of six is at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, on Saturday, May 9.
Tim Dunkley
EASB Media Officer South and World Snooker coach
The English Association of Snooker & Billiards is the national governing body for the amateur game in this country. For more information about competitions, rankings lists and results, see www.easb.co.uk.
The 19-year-old’s victory in the fourth leg of six at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury, took him top of the EASB Regional Junior Tour South rankings.
A 2-0 win in the final over “one of my best mates on and off the tour” earned the Fareham Snooker Club-based teenager £120.
He now faces trips to Coulsdon in May and Woking in June in a bid to join his former clubmate Mark Lloyd, from Stoke SC, Gosport, on the EASB Premier Junior Tour, the circuit restricted to England’s top-49 under-21s.
Budd admitted he struggled through the group stages, qualifying in third place. In the knockout, he accounted for Evan Plummer (London) 2-0, Lennard Cripps (London) 2-1, Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) 2-0 and Brad Chappell (Poole) 2-0 in the final.
The left-hander, who is fourth on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour, said: “I didn’t play brilliant in the groups but then when it came to the knockout stages I felt that I needed to push on more.
“In the final Brad had chances but I managed to punish him. Brad is one of my best mates on and off the tour and recently I’ve beaten him the last four times.
“I felt confident and believed in myself that I can play against players like him as he’s a class player when he gets going.”
The fifth leg of six is at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, on Saturday, May 9.
Tim Dunkley
EASB Media Officer South and World Snooker coach
The English Association of Snooker & Billiards is the national governing body for the amateur game in this country. For more information about competitions, rankings lists and results, see www.easb.co.uk.