Pool: Staffs champ Wharne hoping for a big future
The 23-year-old, from Stafford, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous winners Lee Kendall and Gareth Potts by carving out a successful career in the sport.
Wharne, who works as a warehouse operative in Stoke, is now ranked 63rd in the International Pool Tour list.
Kendall, from Norton Green, is captain of the England pool team.
He was European Champion in 2001 and also reached the final of the World Eight-Ball Championship in 1997.
Potts, from Norton, was world eight-ball pool champion in 2005 and 2007, and world junior champion in 2000.
Wharne, who is also a Staffs county player, said: "I'm good friends with Lee and Gareth and hopefully I can learn from what they've done.
"I've made the top 64 players in the tour for the first time next season and if it goes well I'll then look into going professional. It's certainly something I want to do."
Wharne, who has only been playing pool for three years, battled through six rounds to lift the county title.
He overcame Berry Hill's 2009 World Masters quarter-finalist and Afford League doubles champion Lee Whitfield 4-3 in a close semi-final.
Wharne then faced Leek A's Andy Slack in the final, who had beat teammate Aidy Kosasih in the other semi-final.
Wharne managed to win every frame to win the tie and lift the trophy, becoming only the second player from Stafford to do so.
In the doubles championship, Lee Grout (Cannock) and Dave Shaw (Rugeley) beat Darren Shone (Norton) and Adrian Proctor (Ash Bank) to take the title.
Winners of the team championship were Kev Clarke, Pete Flanagan, Gary O'Reilly and Dave Jackson of Players Club, Alsager.
Meanwhile, three Crewe players have won trials with the England team.
Phil Malam earned his fourth England trial on Sunday after completing the season as Cheshire's number one for 2009.
Dave Preece secured his fifth trial after winning 20 frames from 28 this season. Mike Beeston won his first trial after his impressive 20 frame wins from 32.
Preece, who owns Dishers Pool and Snooker Club in Crewe, said: "I'm thrilled for both Cheshire and Crewe pool.
"Pool in the area is getting bigger and the standard seems to be rising every year."
The trio will compete against the nation's best 64 players for eight places in the England squad next March in Great Yarmouth.
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