The Free State girls golf continues to string together strong team performances as the postseason quickly approaches in mid-October.

Free State took second at the Chesty Lions Shootout on Sept. 17 at Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta. The Firebirds finished with 398 team score, landing one stroke behind Olathe South.

Free State has now shot under 400 in four of the team’s five varsity outings this year. For comparison, last year’s squad had not had four such outings until the team’s last event prior to regionals. Of course, last year’s squad was also comprised of a majority freshmen roster.

This year’s team has a nearly identical line-up to last year’s group, just with that young core being one year older. Free State’s only major departure was with the graduation of Merrit Hale, who earned the team’s top finish at last year’s 6A state tournament with a 93-89 182 to take 43rd.

This year’s group of Firebirds had their best mark when they scored a 369 during the first round of the Sunflower League tournament Sept. 15 at Country Creek Golf Club in Pleasant Hill, Mo. The team finished fifth, behind only last year’s 6A state runner-up in Shawnee Mission East, Olathe West, Mill Valley and Olathe Northwest.

Senior Claire Heinritz led the way for Free State in Chesty Lions Shootout by taking second with a 93, her second best score of the season behind only her career-best 90 a couple days before during that trip to Country Creek.

With Olathe South’s Caroline Parks running away with the best score out in Mayetta with her 78, almost all of the other Firebirds needed to stick close to Heinritz and ahead of the rest of the Falcons’ golfers in order to have a chance at the team closing the gap.

Sophomore Laurel Stancil, who matched Heinritz with her own career-best 90 in the previous outing, shot a 96 to take third in the Chesty Lions Shootout.

Sophomore Tola Jankowski followed with a 101, tying Olathe South’s Bailey Farr for fourth. Senior Haylee Graham matched Olathe South’s Trinity Coggins with a 108 to tie for sixth. Sophomore Mallory White could not quite keep up with Olathe South’s Wrigley Leyden’s 110, landing White in 9th with her 114.

Junior Avery Lonnberg landed two shots back of Olathe South’s Ashtyn Hammer, shooting a 121 to take 11th.

The Firebirds would follow up with a fifth-place finish at their own Firebird Invitational on Sept. 22 at Lawrence Country Club, while improving their team score to 395 in that one. Shawnee Mission East won the event via tiebreaker over Manhattan as both teams shot a 316. Mill Valley took third with a 368 while Olathe West finished fourth with a 370.

Heinritz had the top finish for the team again in that home outing by shooting 95 to take 18th. Jankowski and Stancil tied for 21st with both scoring 97.

Free State will compete next in the Lawrence Invitational on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

 

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence’s Cami Nauholz reacts to her performance putting during the Firebird Invitational Sept. 22, 2025 at Lawrence Country Club.

LAWRENCE BOUNCES BACK FROM TOUGH OUTING IN OWN EVENT

Lawrence had hoped to improve upon their 466 team score from the opening round of the Sunflower League tournament when they hosted the Chesty Lions Shootout last week.

But instead the Lions saw their scores dip at Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta, delivering a 517 team score that was 51 strokes over par.

Lawrence golfers were able to work their way back closer to their performance from that first event with their play in the Firebird Invitational.

Junior Cami Nauholz led the way with a career-best 110, taking 42nd out at Lawrence Country Club. Nauholz showed a marked improvement from her 122 at the Chesty Lions Shootout, her first varsity outing looking to return to form after an offseason shoulder injury.

Nauholz started her sophomore season in 2024 with scores closer in the 130-140 range before elevating her play late in the year on the way to qualifying for state. Her previous best score was a 112 at last year’s Lawrence Invitational. She also shot a 113 on the first day of 6A state, good enough for 83rd in the field.

Senior Isabelle Richards had the next best mark for Lawrence at the Firebird Invitational with her 115, landing her in a four-person tie for 55th. 

Junior Keira Wells took 61st with a 117. Wells, who shot a career- best 102 at the Shawnee Mission Northwest Invitational on Sept. 8 at Sunflower Hills Golf Course, is currently averaging just under 118. Last season Wells averaged right under 136.

Senior Lola Johnson shot a 128 to take 76th. Johnson also had her best outing at Sunflower Hill Golf Course when she shot a career-best 117. Her average of 125.3 this year is also a significant improvement from her 137.3 last season.

Sophomore Mila Morrison, who shot a 117 at Country Creek Golf Club on Sept. 15 before slipping to a 139 two days later in Mayetta, had a slight rebound with her 131 to take 79th.

Lawrence will head to Falcon Ridge Golf Club in Lenexa on Monday, Sept. 29 before joining Free State at Eagle Bend on Wednesday, Oct. 1 for the Lawrence Invitational.