A future PGA Champion could be showing his skills this week at the Troy Country Club.

The Emerald Coast Pro Golf Tour returns to Troy this week for the 4th Annual Drex Guthrie Classic. The Emerald Coast Tour has produced some of the top golfers in the world, including two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson.

Tour Director Geno Celano feels golf’s next big star could be on the links this week.

“We have had some great young golfers come through our tour in the past, and have some good ones on tour right now,” Celano. “Glenn Northcutt, David Miller and Chase Blaich are fantastic golfers with bright futures ahead of them. Our guys just keep moving up the ladder and that is what I want to see.”

Kyle Sapp, of Gardendale, fended off a hard charging Will Dottley to claim the 2013 Drex Guthrie Classic.

Sapp fired a 65 in the final round, backing up a pair of 63s, to best Dottley by a single stroke.

Celano said several new faces would be in the mix to take the 2014 crown.

“Glenn has won three times on tour already, so he is the favorite in my opinion,” Celano said. “David Miller is a guy to watch, as well. I also just found out today that former Troy State golfer Ben Bates is flying in to play as well. It will be a good tournament.”

The Drex Guthrie Classic will pay out more than $10,000 to local charities such as the Boys and Girls Club of Pike and Surrounding Counties and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Gary Guthrie, Drex’s father, feels his son would have wanted it no other way.

“I have told the story a thousand times that Drex thought he worked for the Guthrie Foundation,” Gary said with a chuckle. “He liked to take my money and give it to folks he thought needed it more. We get to honor him with two of his favorite things: golf and charities.

The opening round of the tournament is set for an 8:30 a.m. Shotgun start. 2013 AISA State Low Medalist Susie Stell will get the afternoon session started with an honorary drive at 1:15 P.m.

Admission to the event is free.