In a  solid week, the Sydney-based former Charlestown junior was was fourth at Waratah, sixth at Lake Macquarie and ninth at Woy Woy.

The return home is part of a packed schedule Townsend hopes will have his game in peak form for the Japan Tour qualifying school next month. Townsend, 36, had partial status this year and hopes to increase it to a full card for 2018.

“My first stage of Q school is in the middle of November, a week before NSW Open,” Townsend said. “If successful I will go back up the week after the Aussie Open. Japan suits my game and lifestyle. If I keep working, I think I can get established up there, start playing well and earn a good living. “

Townsend’s best finish in five starts in Japan this year was a tie for 29^th in the PGA Championships in May.

“It has been a lean year,” he said. “I haven’t played as well I would have liked and haven’t been able to put my finger on why. I just have to be patient. Three weeks ago in a tournament I was in the top 10 for three rounds and looking at a good finish, but it didn’t work out that way. I feel like my game is there, I just need a bit more consistency for the four days.”

Townsend finished in a tie for 54^th in his most recent tournament in Japan on October 8. He jumped on a plane that night and made it to Belmont in time for an afternoon tee time at the Lake Macquarie Pro-am.

“I played nine days in a row and could feel it by the end of it,” Townsend said. “I haven’t played a lot of those [Newcastle] courses since I was a junior. Now, the only way I get to play them is when they have a pro-am. It was great and a bit of a walk down memory lane.”

Townsend, who lives in North Parramatta, and practices at Twin Creek, is at  equal 12^th at even par heading into the round two of the $35,000 Castle Hill Pro-Am on Tuesday. Nathan Green also shot even par to be the best of the Hunter contingent, seven strokes behind leader Anthony Summers.

He heads to Perth on Wednesday for the Western Australian Open.

“I leave on an early morning flight and, with the time difference, I will arrive in time to play the pro-am Wednesday afternoon,” he said. “I haven’t played at Royal Perth before but I have been told a lot about it.”

Leigh McKechnie (Waratah) and Callan O’Reilly (Toronto) and Charlestown amateur Blake Windred are also headed to Perth.

After Perth, Townsend will play the Queensland Open (October 26-29), NSW Open (November 16-19) and Australian Open (November 23-26). 

* Shani Waugh will host a ALPGA clinic for women at Charlestown on October 30. The clinic, which will also have Janelle Smith, Vicky Wrigley and Lee Harrington as coaches, caters for all levels and includes breakfast and lunch. To register go to ALPG website or contact the pro-shop 4943 8748.

* Newcastle District retained the Les Evitt Cup with a commanding win over Lower North Coast at Charlestown on Sunday. 

NSW junior captain Jye Pickin, playing as the no.1, used his home-course experience to beat Nathan Waters 5 and 4. Captain Greg McMillan, who halved his match, was the only Newcastle senior player not to win. The locals had a tougher time in the juniors, winning 2.5 to 1.5.

* Entries are being taken for the NSW Veterans matchplay championship to be held in Newcastle from November 6-10. Players are guaranteed four days of competition to be played at Belmont, Waratah, Muree and Charlestown.

* Charlestown professional Ryan Smith is planning the next visit to Barnbougle after a successful inaugural trip last week. Smith and eight Charlestown members played three rounds at the famed course on the North East Coast of Tasmania.

“The wind blew and the course was a little good for us, but it was a fantastic trip just the same,” Smith said.

 * The Toronto Cup on Saturday is the first of three big tournament for the region’s leading amateurs. The Pacific Dunes Cup is on Sunday with the time honoured WE Alexander Cup at Waratah on November 4-5.