Doug Wilson’s golfing livelihood won’t be on the line today at Alvamar, but his links partnership with his son, Spencer, just might when the week-long Kansas Golf Assn. Fourball Championship kicks off.

“That was the thing last year, too, but I guess I got a year extension on my contract,” Lawrence’s Doug Wilson joked of maybe not being able to carry as much weight as his son.

While the Wilsons will in no way be favored to win the highly competitive tournament filled with teams made up of current and former Kansas University golfers as well as a handful of other standouts, they do have a shot to get on a run.

“I was really surprised with how well we did last year,” said Spencer Wilson, a recent graduate of Lawrence High. “And we said, ‘Why not do it again?”’

While the Wilsons want to be competitive, they also look at the time spent together as top-quality family time.

“It’s hard when you have a kid that’s getting a little older to spend time together,” Doug Wilson said. “We really look at this as a fun way to play golf and be around each other.”

The Wilsons do want the title, and, who knows, they might have that shot.

A year ago the duo made it past the first round of match play, and with a little luck, they hope to do the same thing this time around.

“Make birdies, that’s what we’ve got to do,” said Spencer Wilson, a medallist at last month’s Class 6A state tournament. “But the competition is extremely tough.”

In all, 19 golfers from Lawrence will be competing. Last year’s Fourball winners  KU’s Andy Stewart and Chris Marshall  are not entered in the field.

“We kind of have an advantage working for us, we don’t have any pressure on us” Spencer Wilson said. “We can just go out there and play relaxed golf.”

Qualifying play will start today as the first group, which includes the Wilsons, will tee of at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday marks the second round of qualifying. First- and second-round matches will begin Thursday. The third round and semifinals will be held Friday with a 36-hole championship round starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Doug joked with Spencer that this might be the year he’d team with one of his peers since several other LHS players are also in the field.

But Spencer said his dad hasn’t lost his stroke.

“He beats me about as much as I beat him,” said Spencer, who said his dad first put clubs in his hands when he was 4. “It’s kind of been our thing for 14 years.”

And maybe even one more.

That’s because Spencer has decided to stay home to go to college and will try to walk on to the Kansas golf team

“As long as we can stay competitive and go out there and continue to enjoy each other it could continue,” said Doug.

Spencer agreed.

“We both love this game so much,” he said.