The first of two qualifying rounds was played Tuesday at Alvamar Golf Club and featured nearly 150 amateur golfers from as close as Lawrence and as far away as New York.

The Jayhawk golfers, who claim Alvamar as their home course, enter the tournament as obvious favorites with both the rules and history on their side. The format of the tournament, competing as teams of two as opposed to individuals, helps alleviate the pressure.

The event is played in best-ball format — each golfer plays each hole, and the best score is recorded. For example, if Jack Nicklaus and Chi Chi Rodriguez were teamed and Nicklaus eagled a hole that Rodriguez birdied, the pair would use Nicklaus’ score.

“It’s good to get away from the usual grind of playing your own ball,” KU junior golfer Kevin Ward said. “You’ve birdied all these holes so many times, you feel you could just go out there in this format and do it.

“I’d put us up against anyone. I’m not going to be intimidated by anyone, especially on this home course of ours.”

Jayhawk golfers have won the event — which is pared to a 32-team field after today’s second round — three of the last four years. If there is any pressure on Ward, who is paired with freshman teammate Gary Woodland, it is that he is the top returning veteran for the Jayhawks next season.

Traditionally, the team’s top veterans have fared well at the tournament. Former Jayhawk Andy Stewart won in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, he was teamed with former KU All-American Chris Marshall.

“I’ve seen how the past KU guys, especially the veterans, have played well in this tournament,” Ward said. “If I can go out there and play my own game and play well, then I don’t see why not. We’ve both got enough talent that if we’re both on, it shouldn’t be much of a question.”

The last Jayhawk to win was sophomore Pete Krsnich, who did so in 2002 with his high school teammate Jason Novascone. This year, Krsnich is teaming with his younger brother, Joey, a senior-to-be at Wichita Kapaun High.

“A few years ago in my first fourball, I played with my older brother, Tony, and we did pretty well,” Pete Krsnich said. “Joey’s becoming a pretty good player, so I’m excited to see him come up and play with him.”

Even though the members of the KU golf team have all of the twists, turns and lies of Alvamar Golf Club committed to memory, they still like being around the support of teammates.

“I like the fact that you can rely on somebody else,” freshman Tyler Docking said. “I don’t like having to rely on them, but it’s nice knowing that somebody’s there to back you up.

6Sports video: Fourball tourney under way at Alvamar

“You can take a few more chances once you get out there. You can actually try to shoot 60 instead of trying to play conservative and hoping to shoot even par.”

The tournament continues today with the second round. The first group tees off at 7:30 a.m.