The dark clouds looming on the horizon didn’t stop the golfers at the Selma Country Club Friday.

A total of 128 golfers showed up for the 82 annual Selma Golf Invitational at the country club, exactly 40 more players than last year’s event.

The rise in numbers, according to Selma Country Club golf pro Tommy Burns, has more to do with the length of the event than word getting around.

“Everyone already knows about this tournament,” Burns said. “I think what really sets us apart is that we are a three-day tournament. The best golfers really come to that because it is a lot more competitive.”

The tournament began at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning with a shotgun start of mixed players, followed by the second group of golfers going out at 1 p.m. The shotgun format will continue over the weekend with the top flight golfers teeing off at 1 p.m. and the third, fourth and fifth flights going out at 8:30 a.m.

“The great thing about this tournament is no one can get lucky and win it,” Burns said. “In a two-day competition, you can shoot a great score one day and just do enough on the second day and still win. In a three-day tournament, you have to play three days of good golf in order to win. No one gets lucky three days in a row.”

With storms expected on Saturday, Burns said he was confident the tournament would be able to play normally each day.

“We have plenty of daylight,” Burns said.

“Even if we have to wait a little while with the storms pass, we can come back later. If we can’t, then we will find a way to compete later in the weekend. Either way, we will get this in somehow.”