OVERSEAS NEWS
AUSTRALIA
Australian Open Billiards
Matthew Bolton becomes Australian
Champion at the age of 20.
Matthew Bolton's 21st birthday celebrations began five days early when he took the Australian National Billiards title on Sunday 2nd July at the Penrith Cue Sports Centre, Sydney. Bolton had been impressive throughout the competition, which had started with the group stages on 26th June, making a high break of 452 in his quarter- final match against Adrian Hinks. In the semi-final Bolton had defeated Joe Minici 1194-852, before overcoming a strong challenge from Neil Croft 1591-1471 in the final. In addition to his 452 break Bolton also recorded runs of 325, 220 during the course of the competition. The other players to beat the 200+ barrier were the 1999 Champion, David Collins (240), and Neil Croft (218)
Round-Robin (2 hours)
Group 1: David Collins (181, 124, 108, 94) 1031, Keith Taylor 242;
David Collins (240, 99) 860, Mac Rynkiewicz 399; David Collins 537, Frank Humphries 465;
Frank Humphries (125, 108, 94, 94) 996, Keith Taylor 222; Frank Humphries (164, 126) 624, Mac
Rynkiewicz 210; Mac Rynkiewicz 542, Keith Taylor 365.
Group 2: Neil Croft 655, Tim Walters (102) 376; Neil Croft (97) 691, Steve Hall 387; Tim Walters
(166, 148, 142) 737, Steve Hall 210;
Group 3: Joe Millen (108) 541, Peter Hubbard 481; Joe Millen (102) 472, Neil Bolton 408; Joe
Millen 525, Adrian Hinks 439; Adrian Hinks 457, Peter Hubbard 456; Adrian Hinks 403, Neil
Bolton 380; Neil Bolton 609, Peter Hubbard 414
Group 4: Matthew Bolton (155, 107) 848, Brian Moulday 304; Matthew Bolton 579, Vic Cravino
405; Matthew Bolton (325, 176) 1177, Tony Psaila 221; Matthew Bolton (220, 121, 101) 682, Joe
Minici (151) 542; Joe Minici (198) 702, Tony Psaila 351; Joe Minici (183, 110, 109, 101) 992, Brian
Moulday 266; Joe Minici (149, 109, 95) 836, Vic Cravino (93) 355; Tony Psaila 470, Vic Cravino
445; Tony Psaila 561, Brian Moulday 443; Vic Cravino 614, Brian Moulday 437.
Quarter-Finals (3 hrs) Friday 30th June
Tim Walters (168) 989, David Collins (147) 652; Neil
Croft (218, 120, 113, 102) 1074, Frank Humphries 435; Joe Minici (132, 115) 836, Joe Millen 671;
Matthew Bolton (452) 1226, Adrian Hinks 420.
Semi-Finals (4 hrs) Saturday 1st July
Neil Croft (141) 980, Tim Walters (139, 107) 843; Matthew
Bolton (124, 116, 105) 1194, Joe Minici (95, 94) 852.
Final (6 hrs) Sunday 2nd July
Matthew Bolton (129, 111, 102, 95) 1591, Neil Croft (157, 121, 113,
106) 1471.