His college career has been over for three years, but former Kansas University golfer Conrad Roberts continues to find luck on the local links.

Roberts, a Brecon, Wales, native who played for KU from 1999 to 2001, lives in Lawrence and works as a business manager for the University Press of Kansas.

“I miss playing every day,” Roberts said of leaving his collegiate career behind. “It’s been an adjustment not playing as regularly.”

Still, Roberts hasn’t lost his smooth swing off the tee or precise putting skills that made him one of the top golfers in the Big 12 Conference.

Those skills were on display Monday afternoon at Eagle Bend Golf Course, where Roberts played in the Kansas Golf Assn. Kansas Amateur qualifying round. His 1-under-par round of 71 tied for the sixth-best score of the day.

“I’ve been playing when I can,” he said. “I’ve been playing a lot of Kansas Cup for Alvamar, but that’s about it, so it’s nice to come out and play consistently well for 18 holes.”

Roberts took a break from the Kansas Cup on Saturday, when he fired a 74 at Eagle Bend and finished tied for fifth in the Lawrence Amateur Golf Assn. City Championship.

He said he treated it as a warm-up for Monday’s round so he’d be more prepared to make his first bid for a slot in the Kansas Amateur. The strategy seemed to work because he put together a consistent round with 17 pars and one birdie.

“I didn’t play aggressively today at all,” Roberts said. “It’s a qualifying round, so you really don’t need to shoot way under par. I figured somewhere around even was going to get me in. I just hit fairways and hit greens all day.”

Lawrence's Conrad Roberts tees off during the KGA's Kansas Amateur qualifying. Roberts tied for sixth place with a 71 Monday at Eagle Bend.

Dave Carson of Tecumseh recorded the day’s top score with a 4-under-par 68.

The top 33 finishers from the field of 96 golfers at Eagle Bend qualified for the Kansas Amateur, which will take place July 19-25 at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe. A total of 388 players from six regions will play in the Amateur.

In addition to Roberts, four other Lawrence residents made the cut Monday. Michael Rack posted the second-best score of the qualifier with a 69, tied with two other golfers. Former Lawrence High golfer Spencer Wilson recorded an even-par 72, and Mark Bruder and Tom Rainbolt fired rounds of 73.

Ottawa’s Jed Killough qualified with a 71, and Baldwin’s Mike Everett had a 73.