four-time defending lawrence amateur golf association city champion Conrad Roberts will have quite a few people wanting to take away his title this year. The two-day tournament starts today at Eagle Bend.

Jon Platz totaled a 132 to set a tournament record during the two-day, 36-hole Kansas Golf Association Public Links Championship.

“I had everything working,” Platz said.

The 6-foot-6 former Wichita State and Lawrence High golfer carded a 65 on Saturday and a 67 on Sunday at Eagle Bend Golf Course. More impressively, the Olathe resident performed at that level while working in a new draw driver. He cracked the face on his usual driver with a fade head last Sunday. But by all observations, the draw head worked just fine.

“I liked it,” he said, smiling. “So I’ll probably keep it in the bag.”

Three golfers – Kyle Smell, Travis Engle and Ryan Deutsch – tied for second place, scoring a two-round total of 136, four shots behind Platz.

“It was a good showing,” Deutsch said. “I had no idea that it would take a 12-under, coming in to win it.”

KGA officials jokingly asked if anyone wanted to play a playoff, a less-than-desirable scenario considering the sweltering 90-degree heat.

Engle, a project leader from McPherson, left shortly after recording a 65 on Sunday to head to Raleigh, N.C., for business.

“I was mainly looking to get out of here because I’ve got a 5:30 flight out of Kansas City,” he said.

Deutsch, a senior at Washburn University, scored a 67 Saturday and a 69 Sunday. His Sunday performance on hole No. 12 hole prevented him from taking sole possession of second place. He drove to the green on the par-5 hole but only managed a par while the others in his group – Platz, Conrad Roberts and Jim Doyle – birdied.

“That was really was kind of a killer for me,” Deutsch said.

Joe Ida, a sophomore at Kansas State, posted the lowest total of the day, a 64, to give him a two-day total of 139. The 64 represents a personal best for Ida and an Eagle Bend record during competition. Ida bogied three holes, but he compensated for those setbacks by notching 11 birdies.

“I don’t think I made a putt over 10 or 12 feet,” he said. “I just had it close all day long.”

Spurred by his strong driving and irons game, champion Platz found himself in a similarly positive situation throughout the weekend.

“He looked at 15-foot birdie putts all day,” Deutsch said. “And you’re not going to get in a lot of trouble when you’re having 10 to 15 feet for birdies every time.”

Platz, a mortgage loan officer, almost gave up the game three years ago, but regained his composure on the course and love of the game.

“Back then it just wasn’t fun,” Platz said. “I had the yips. That word doesn’t scare me anymore.”

Instead, his 132 at the 13th annual Public Links Championship bested by a stroke the previous low set by Tyler Cummins in 2006.

Platz’s wife, Stacey, joined him to watch the last nine holes.

“Right when I saw her, I made a birdie,” he said.

Stacy likely will receive a reward for her lucky presence. For winning the Public Links championship, Platz received a $400 gift certificate at the Eagle Bends pro shop.

“My wife’s already ragging me,” he said. “She’s probably getting some pink shirt.”