LJWorld.com

Tournament organizer Kyle Taylor isn't only looking for a competitive finish at this year's Men's City Golf Championship.

He's also looking for a finish, period.

Last year's event was rained out the second day, giving Adam Stanley the championship after only one round.

With sunny skies in the forecast, a record field of 76 golfers and 23 in the championship flight will need to put together a pair of good days to take home this year's title.

"The weather looks good," Taylor said. "We should have a great weekend for this tournament."

Today's action will begin at 10:06 a.m. at Alvamar Golf Course as the first of six championship groups tee off.

The two-day event will conclude Sunday at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

Stanley, who shot a 66 last year at Eagle Bend, will not play in this year's event while pursuing a spot in a professional tournament.

In fact, the only returning winner of the Lawrence Amateur Golf Assn. City Championship is Camron Flanders, who earned the victory in 2003.

Taylor highlighted Dane Ogden, Mike Grosdidier and Chris Hutchens as strong players likely to compete for the city crown, but said with the talented group of golfers it was impossible to establish a clear-cut favorite.

"There's a lot of really good players," Taylor said. "It's definitely the strongest field that we've ever had."

Ogden, Grosdidier and Hutchens all will tee off in the first group with Scot Buxton at 10:06 a.m.

Grosdidier finished second in 2003, tying Flanders but falling short in a subsequent playoff.

Taylor said he was pleased with this year's turnout after the event gathered just 57 golfers last June.

"In 2003 we had 71 players, and we changed the date last year," Taylor said. "That may have hurt us with numbers."

This is the fifth year the LAGA has played host to the city event. Taylor believes the tournament has the capability to become even bigger in the future.

"I'd like to see over 100 because there are a lot of good players in town not playing," Taylor said, "but some of them are on vacation or out of town."

Also keeping some players away are preparations for next week's Kansas Amateur tournament, which will be played in Manhattan.

A portion of all the entry fees in this weekend's event will go to the Headquarters Counseling Center in Lawrence. Last year, the event raised $1,500 for the nonprofit organization.