Since graduating from Kansas University, Conrad Roberts has had little time to work on his golf game.

But over the last 12 months, the former KU golfer has felt like a college kid again.

“Overall, I’m pretty happy with the way my golf game is going right now,” Roberts said. “It’s at a point right now where I’m pretty comfortable on the golf course again. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in that situation. When I graduated college, I was playing real well, but I took a couple of years where I was not playing so much. But now I’ve really gotten back into golf and once again comfortable on the golf course.”

Today, Roberts will return to the tournament that sparked his impressive play over the past year: the Lawrence Amateur Golf Association’s City Championship.

Since winning the City Championship last July, Roberts won the Kansas Golf Association’s Four-Ball Championship at Alvamar Golf Course with teammate Chad Roesler and finished in the top five at the KGA Public Links Championship at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

Now Roberts will combine both KGA experiences when he attempts to repeat in the City Championship, which will be played at Eagle Bend today and Alvamar on Sunday.

“Every tournament should be big for you, whether it’s a KGA event, whether it’s a city tournament or a men’s club event,” Roberts said. “In order to play at a hight level, you’ve got to prepare yourself well each and every time.”

Roberts has a solid field to face, one that includes Roesler along with 2004 city champ Adam Stanley and Stewart Platz, the 2005 city champ.

But Roberts said he would have a bit of an advantage because Alvamar is his home course.

“Alvamar is considered the tougher of the two courses for sure,” said Roberts, who will be grouped with Roesler in the first foursome to tee off today. “And a lot of the guys that play well down at Eagle Bend don’t necessarily play well at Alvamar, where as I am very comfortable at Alvamar as I am at Eagle Bend.”

John Emerson, the 2004 and 2006 senior division champion, can attest to the difficulties of Alvamar.

Emerson, a Baldwin resident, said Alvamar was better suited for big hitters.

“The thought is you’ve got your easy course Saturday and you’re hard course Sunday, which you can play both ways if you’re the leader,” said Emerson, who said he wasn’t a long hitter. “You’ve got to worry that you could play poorly on Sunday and be passed. But if you’re somebody behind, are you going to be able to improve enough on Sunday after a poor round on Saturday because it is a harder course?

“Some people just like Alvamar so much better that they will play better at Alvamar. And the Alvamar players will play better out there.”

If that’s the case, does the leader need to take more chances at Eagle Bend?

“If you feel like you’re having a good round and you’re ahead of some people, definitely,” said Emerson, who had a five-shot lead heading to Alvamar last year. “Sometimes it goes the other way. You play conservative knowing you don’t want to give up any strokes coming down the stretch. As far as I’m concerned, I need a cushion going into Sunday at Alvamar because I know it’s the harder course.”

Without Suzanne Hutchen and Carol Rau – the 2005 and 2006 women’s division champs – entered in the tournament, the crown will be decided between just four women: Sidney Garrett, Michele Johnson, Mary Kolich and Bobette Puderbaugh.