By Marilyn Miller

Sometimes they hooked…sometimes they bounced almost to the ceiling. But under the direction of professional golfer, Blake Thomas, about 98 percent of the golf balls that were driven this past weekend went into a giant net.

That’s right. In its first year, “Swing for a Cure” netted a lot of money for the annual Minden St. Jude Auction. Lessons were $75 for half an hour and $150 per hour. Prior to the start of the fund-raiser, co-sponsored by the Minden Foundation, every lesson in the three-day block was booked. Apparently, there are a lot of golfers in the Minden area in need of lessons.

And Thomas, director of Instruction at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, California, is more than qualified to give them.

“In the PGA world, Blake has been recognized as a top instructor,” said Andy Pendergrass, Minden Foundation board member.

The lessons took place in the Minden Presbyterian Church gymnasium, which suffered no ill effects.

Thomas is a native of Minden and a certified member of the PGA. He is the son of Tim and Jennifer Shuler Thomas of Minden.