By Derek Thompson | The Selma Times-Journal

Brooke Sansom’s memory of winning last year’s annual Bud Burns Dixie Junior Championship for the girls’ division has sharpened her desire to win in 2015.

The defending girls champion from Pike Road led the tournament again after shooting a 70 (2-under) Monday at the Selma Country Club.

Sansom’s winning score last year was 152. She said she wants to score lower this year.

“I didn’t start off too well, but I had that trophy in mind,” Sansom said. “I guess that came back to mind and I started to make a lot of putts. All my shots weren’t my best, but my putting was probably the best it’s been.”

Besides her work on the green, Sansom said her ability to hit the ball further than she could last year made it easier to set up her shots.

“You can’t get too high on yourself, but you want to keep that mindset that you are going to win,” Sansom said. “You just want to take it one shot at a time.”

Sansom will try and defend her title in the largest group of girls (27) ever to participate in the tournament since the girls division was created in 2004.

The players qualifying for the boys “A” division, which will include 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-olds, will play 36 holes Tuesday after playing 18 Monday.

While the young competitors will be focused on cutting as many strokes off their score as they can the next few days, the most important aspects the players will gain from the tournament is friendship and character, said Tommy Burns, who serves as the PGA professional at the Selma Country Club.

“When they’re 10-years-old they will probably play the same kids when they are 18,” Burns said. “It’s lifelong memories and friendships. It’s all about character too. It’s not just the game. Golf gives you a score, but you also get a learning experience out of it. Golf is secondary.”

Other notables after day one of the championship are Hannah Sager of Wetumpka, who finshed with a 74 (+2); Alexis Berger of Alabaster, who finshed with a 75 (+3); Sarah Battye of Auburn, who finished with a 76 (+4); Kailtyn Gilmore of Muscle Shoals, who finished with a 77 (+5); Anna Reid of Demopolis, who finished with a 79 (+7); Hannah Pope of Florence, who finished with a 79 (+7); Anna Hays of Muscle Shoals, who finished with a 80 (+8).

An overall champion and winner for each division will be announced Tuesday after the girls 9-and-under play nine holes and all other girls play 18 holes.

The girls will tee off at 7:30 a.m. with the last tee time being at 9 a.m. The boys will start at 9:06 with the last group of boys teeing off at 1:30 p.m.