As his golfers started reporting their scores, Lawrence High girls’ golf coach Mike Lewis knew it was going to be a good day.

But this was beyond his expectations.

The Lions took third at Monday’s Sunflower League tournament at Meadowbrook Country Club in Prairie Village, totaling 397 points and finishing behind champion Olathe East and runner-up Olathe North. Free State High was fifth with 414 points.

“Once the scores started coming in, I realized that we were going to be near the top three teams,” Lewis said. “I was as surprised as anybody.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the fourth-place finish by freshman Jamie Shmalberg, who shot a season-best 88. She was just one stroke back of teammate Sydney Wilson, third at 87.

It gave the Lions a formidable, if unexpected, one-two punch.

“Jamie is very capable of shooting that,” Lewis said. “That was probably her best 18 holes this year that I’m aware of. She shot a 48 at Leavenworth, so I knew she could shoot in the 40s, but putting it together for 18 is another challenge.”

Free State senior Ashley Johnson finished eighth, carding a 91. FSHS coach Steve Grant said he was pleased with her score, considering the course conditions early Monday morning.

“The first four of five holes were really tough,” he said. “It was cold and it seemed like a lot of the early holes were going into the sun. It turned out to be a nice day, but it was tough at first.”

Grant said he also wished the team score could have been better, but the Firebirds were hampered by no other player shooting under 105. Seniors Erin Harrison and Jaclyn Morgenstern shot 106 and 107, while Kym Scafe (110) and Bree Beasley (114) were the Firebirds’ other golfers. Whitney Juneau (107), Diane Riat (115), Kelly Jacob (117) and Susan Lawhorn (128), rounded out the Lions’ scores.

The two teams will be wrapping their seasons with the Lawrence Invitational on Thursday at Alvamar Golf Course, and regionals next Monday at Stag Hill Golf Course in Manhattan.

High School Results

SUNFLOWER LEAGUE

Monday at Meadowbrook

Team scoring: Olathe East 369, Olathe North 386, Lawrence High 397, SM Northwest 412, Free State 414, SM East 415, Olathe South 421, SM South 433, SM North 467, Leavenworth 468, SM West (no team score).

Medalists: 1. Goucher, Olathe North, 77. 2. Langford, Leavenworth, 86. 3. Sydney Wilson, Lawrence High, 87. 4. Jamie Shmalberg, Lawrence High, 88. 5. Hiatt, Olathe East, 89.

Other Lawrence High scores: Whitney Juneau 107, Diane Riat 115, Kelly Jacob 117, Susan Lawhorn 128.

Free State scores: Ashley Johnson 91, Erin Harrison 106, Jaclyn Morgenstern 107, Kym Scafe 110, Bree Beasley 114.