THE confidence boost of a personal best break seven weeks ago spurred Austen Petty on to claim his first Eastleigh & District Under-18 Premier title.

Petty had been runner-up three times since securing back-to-back Under-13 championships in 2011 at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

But the 15-year-old from Boyatt Wood hit the front on the day he posted his 62 and had opened up an uncatchable lead with two weeks to spare. “I’m glad I’ve won it this time because three times I’ve been runner-up,” he said.

It’s been a great start to 2014 for the Crestwood College student, who aims to take his game “a lot further”.

He has performed well in his opening matches for Super League outfit Chandlers Ford Central Club A and still turns out for that club’s billiards side.

And he is joint sixth on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Tour after winning the fifth leg at his home club earlier this month.

Luke Beebe leads the chase for the Under-18 runners-up spot, Karan Chadda is top of Division 1, Coby Mumford heads Division 2 and Harry Gibson is favourite to clinch the Division 3 trophy.

In the Under-13 League, Beebe is on course to claim his third Premier crown. Billy Naismith leads Division 1, the much-improved Oli Line is top of Division 2 and brothers Billy and Jack Dowling head Divisions 3 and 4 respectively.

WEEK-15 GROUP WINNERS U13: Toby Oliver, Jeremy Chislett, Coby Mumford, Oliver Sykes.

Breaks: Luke Beebe 35, Oli Line 18(PB).

U18: Luke Beebe, Karan Chadda, Coby Mumford, Lee Fitzpatrick.

Breaks: Austen Petty 35, Lee Fitzpatrick 28 & 21.