Wichita ? Lawrence High’s golf team had high hopes of a state title Monday afternoon at Rolling Hills Country Club, but some unexpectedly high scores quickly changed that notion.

The Lions settled for fifth place at the Class 6A meet.

In individual scoring, Lawrence High’s Zach Blevins finished tied for 11th with a 7-over-par 79 while both Spencer Wilson and Nathaniel Spencer shot 80s and tied for 19th.

“Coming into the meet we thought a 320 would put us right in the thick of things,” LHS coach Ron Commons. “It did and we were right there, but we needed one of our guys to shoot an unbelievably low round like that Emporia kid.”

Emporia junior Brian Lawson was tourney medalist with a career-best 69. Lawson, who didn’t even play varsity golf a year ago, hadn’t shot lower than a 76 all season. But his low score Monday propelled Emporia to a second-place finish.

Olathe East, which tied the Spartans’ score of 309, won the team title because its fifth-best finisher had a lower score than Emporia’s fifth man.

Three other LHS golfers also finished in the 80s. Cameron Flanders fired an 81, Tom Fullbright an 86 and Jon Moseley an 89.

Free State’s lone qualifier, Aaron Webber, shot an 83 and did not medal.

“I’m definitely disappointed with how I played,” said Webber, who started his round with a birdie. “Practice for next season begins now.”

At one point Webber said he was so disappointed he really stopped caring, but then decided, “If I’m going to play, I might as well finish strong.”

He recorded pars on the last six holes.

“I think that’s really what I’m the most proud about,” Free State coach Jack Schreiner said. “He really could have given up out there, but he kept battling through a tough day.”

That seemed to be the routine for LHS as well when one of the Lions’ strengths the short game fell apart.

“I think putting was definitely what held us back,” Blevins said. “The greens were really fast, almost like cement. And it was difficult to read how the ball was breaking. At times when it looked like it should break a lot, the ball didn’t at all.”

Commons said a famous golfer once had a little trouble with Rolling Hills’ greens.

“Ben Hogan kind of made the course famous when he five-putted hole No. 9,” Commons said. “Several of our guys, much like him, would like to have a few of those shots back.”

The Lions’ Wilson ended his career with his second-worst performance of the season.

“Really, there’s not much to say about it,” Wilson said. “When you play like that you don’t want to talk too much. It’s really disappointing to know that we had the ability to come in and challenge for the title, but we didn’t perform like we thought we would. A lot of that weight has to be put on my shoulders.”

Still, Commons was pleased with a top-five finish from a team that will return four of its six state qualifiers next year.

“We’ve got a lot of experience coming back and this finish will only help them get better understanding of what they have to do to achieve the highest goal of a title,” Commons said.