Sometimes the yips accompany a golfer’s first trip to the state tournament.

Lucky for Free State High senior Ashley Johnson, this isn’t her first trip.

When the Class 6A girls’ state tournament tees off today at Prairie Highland Golf Course in Olathe, Johnson will be one of the more experience golfers on the course, having played last year at Lake Shawnee.

“Having a year of experience under her belt, I think it’s a big deal,” FSHS coach Steve Grant said. “All the hype and everything, she’ll be real familiar with that.”

Lawrence High freshman Sydney Wilson will be making her state debut, but LHS coach Mike Lewis doesn’t think she’ll get the yips. Wilson, who was second at last Monday’s regional in Manhattan after shooting a 90, has played in big-time summer tournaments among some of the best golfers in the Kansas City area and even the Midwest.

“She’s pretty casual about this,” Lewis said. “This is a girl who’s played in a lot of the junior tournaments in summertime. I think she looks at it as a tournament that includes the best players in the state.

“All in all, she’s kinda relaxed.”

With good reason. Wilson shot a 42 at Prairie Highlands during the Olathe North Invitational on Aug. 29, and has been consistent all season. She’s an all-league golfer, who Lewis says manages to keep her cool no matter the situation.

The same could be said about Johnson.

“She’s real calm, sometimes you don’t know what’s going on inside,” Grant said.

“I’ve never seen her get angry when she hits a bad shot or misses a putt. She just has that real steady demeanor.”

Johnson carded a 51 at the O-North Invite, but Grant thinks she could surprise some of her partners when she tees off today at 8:40 a.m.

Wilson will tee off in one of the last groups at 10:10 a.m. because of her regional placing. That kind of pairing could play to her favor.

“Golf is a game where you have to take the good shots with the bad,” Lewis said. “That’s definitely an advantage she has as a freshman because she doesn’t get too rattled.”