The Selma Country Club is preparing to test some of the state’s best junior golfers next week at the 53rd annual Bud Burns Dixie Junior Invitational.

The tournament tees off Monday and runs through Wednesday, testing each players skill set and how they handle the heat.

The girls’ competition will start Monday and ends Tuesday. Girls ages 12-and-under will play nine holes Monday and nine Tuesday. All other girls competiting will play 18 holes Monday and 18 Tuesday.

The boys’ competition has a different twist. Golfers 11 and over will play 18 holes Tuesday and Wednesday, unless they qualify for “A” Division, which will be decided after Tuesday’s round.

Golfers that qualify for “A” Division will play 36 holes on Wednesday, which Tommy Burns, PGA professional at the Selma Country Club, said sets up as an ultimate challenge of skill set and physical ability.

“It’ll be different for all of them, because I don’t know of a single tournament that plays 36 holes in one,” Burns said. “The only people I know that play a 36 hole qualifying is the U. S. Open. I would say this is going to be a new experience for anyone that has not played in the Dixie Junior before.”

Last year, Andalusia’s Brooks Rabren won the overall boys’ competition with a total of 215 (+2).

Burns said he would be surprised if a player doesn’t shoot under par to win this year’s tournament.

“We generally get some good players here,” Burns said. “There are some kids out there that can do it. I’d be surprised if it’s over par.”

According to the official entry list, Rabren has not signed up for this year’s event yet, but registration does not end until Monday. Last year’s defending girls’ champion, Clanton’s Madison Sanders, is on the official entry list and will compete in this year’s event.

Sanders shot a total of 151 (+8) to win, joining a list of winners that includes several major champion golfers.

Two time Masters winner Bubba Watson won the Bud Burns in 1994 and 1995 and former British Open winner Stewart Cink won it in 1988 and 1990.

Outside of the overall winners, the tournament will have winners for each age group.

The girls are divided into 9-and-under, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18.

Boys will be divided into 10-and-under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18, and “A” division.