If Sydney Wilson hadn’t solidified her spot as one the state’s elite golfers, she presented a strong case Thursday.

Wilson, a Lawrence High junior, not only beat a loaded 22-team, 111-golfer field at the Lawrence High Invitational, she coasted, firing a 4-over-par 76 at Alvamar Golf Club.

Only one other girl, Blue Valley North’s Rachel Halloran, broke 80, shooting a 79.

Wilson’s day led Lawrence to a seventh-place finish in the meet, posting a score of 374. Manhattan won with 339 and had three golfers earn individual-medalist honors. Free State placed 19th with 468.

For LHS, the high finish was a welcome sight for coach Mike Lewis, who still feels the Lions’ best days are upcoming.

“That’s definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to competing as a team,” Lewis said. “That’s the first time we’ve broken 400 in the five years I’ve been here.”

Whitney Juneau (95) and Jamie Shmalberg (98) each broke 100 to lower Lawrence’s score, but the day undeniably belonged to Wilson. Last year’s state runner-up shot a 1-over 37 on the front nine and a 3-over 39 on the back.

“It was a decent round,” Wilson said. “I felt like I was hitting the ball pretty well.”

Her score could have been lower except for a couple of hiccups that led to bogeys on the par-five 11th and par-three 12th.

Lawrence High's Whitney Juneau hits a tee shot during the Lawrence High Invitational. Juneau shot 95 on Thursday at Alvamar Golf Club.

Since Wilson played the back nine first, though, the early troubles were erased — and made up for — quite quickly. Heck, she could have goofed a couple more times and still been the champion. She was that good Thursday.

“She’s such a steady golfer,” Lewis said. “Those little glitches in the round don’t bother her. If anything, they motivate her.”

Free State was led by Ashley Robinson, who shot a 108. Behind her were Liz Brandt (111) and Chelsea Boison (119).

After being one of a pack of golfers at the top of Free State’s ladder last year, Robinson, a junior, has begun to emerge as a solid number one for the Firebirds, something coach Craig Hershiser said was deserving.

“The thing about Ashley is that she’s always at practice, despite other commitments that may come up,” Hershiser said. “To see her rewarded with the low team score is nice. Watching her practice this week, I felt pretty good about what she was going to do.”

6News video: LHS golfer wins invitational (09-16-04)

Lawrence and Free State will stay within city limits for their next competition. This time, Free State will play host to an invitational Monday at Eagle Bend Golf Course.