CROQUET: Bundaberg's best croquet players will be defending their turf this weekend and into next week.

The Bundaberg Croquet and Sunnyside Croquet clubs are hosting the Wide Bay Burnett croquet tournament, which will see players from Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast compete at the event.

Players will battle in an X,Y,Z tournament on Saturday before a singles and singles handicap competition is held next week for players in division 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The X,Y,Z sees eight teams of two play against each other with division 1 and 2 combined and 3 and 4 joined up as well.

All will compete in X at the start of the day before moving into Y and Z with losses throughout the day.

The winner of X will be the only undefeated team in the competition.

Tournament director Cal Toft said 32 players would play in the X,Y,Z with more than 20 competing in the singles.

Toft said there was one clear favourite for division 1.

"Troy McCallum, who is our local here (Bundaberg Croquet Club), he's just been runner-up in the Australian singles title,” he said.

"He's playing very well, a good young player in his 40s and he's been in the state team.

"He's the best player we've got nominated in this competition.”

Fellow BCC member Geoffrey Dickie will compete in division 2 and comes into the event in good form.

"I played in a competition down in Bribie Island and I won, which was good,” Dickie said.

"Winning form is good form.”

The tournament begins on Saturday with matches to be held at Bundaberg Croquet Club only.

Games in the singles tournament will be held at Sunnyside and BCC from Sunday to Wednesday.

The Bundy club is on Quay St and Sunnyside is on Walker St.

Shane Jones