A short drive across town made all the difference for the Free State High girls golf squad.

After stumbling and bumbling at the Lawrence High Invitational on Thursday at Alvamar Golf Club, the Firebirds played much more consistently Monday at the Eagle Bend Invitational.

Their scores weren’t in contention — not with state powers like Topeka Washburn Rural and Blue Valley Northwest present — but satisfying nonetheless. Led by Kristin Kearns’ 103, Free State tied for eighth at the 13-team tournament at Eagle Bend Golf Course with a 429 — 39 strokes better than the team score last week at the LHS Invitational.

“We showed some definite improvement,” FSHS coach Craig Hershiser said. “I know the girls felt a lot better about their day today.”

Kearns had a nice turnaround and was joined in the same scoring range as Liz Brandt (104), Chelsea Boison (109) and Ashley Robinson (113).

Washburn Rural won the meet Monday, firing an impressive 337. Lawrence High, led by Sydney Wilson’s third-place finish, took seventh at 417.

Wilson shot an 81, but left the course bumming after a so-so day by her standards. She was battling fatigue and, at certain points, bizarre strokes of bad luck. On the 16th hole, for example, a nice 200-yard tee shot between the dual fairways turned up missing for 10 minutes before it was found lodged in a pine tree about five feet off the ground.

It’s safe to say she couldn’t do that twice even if she wanted to.

“I was very inconsistent,” Wilson said of her day. “I never could mentally concentrate, and you can’t play good golf that way.”

Lawrence High golfer Sydney Wilson hits a shot from a fairway bunker during the Eagle Bend Invitational. Wilson shot 81, placing third and helping LHS to a seventh-place finish at the event Monday at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

Lawrence’s Whitney Juneau fired a 95 to again provide a low-scoring 1-2 punch for LHS. The Lions’ regular No. 3 golfer, junior Jamie Shmalberg, didn’t participate because of extracurricular conflicts. That gave less-experienced varsity golfers, like Brittany Laughlin, Samantha Hays and Courtney Kincaid, the chance to step up.

“It’s a great experience for them,” LHS coach Mike Lewis said. “I think they can be a little more comfortable out here at a place like Eagle Bend. They came out and did the best they could.”

Along with the Eagle Bend Invitational victory, Washburn Rural also claimed the inaugural “Winner Takes All” traveling trophy. It’s the brainchild of Lewis and Hershiser, and a chance to link the two city tournaments that take place within a week. Any team that recorded team scores at both the LHS Invitational and the Eagle Bend Invitational is eligible.

With Free State’s annual meet getting larger and larger by the year, 10 of the 13 teams participating Monday also played last week at Alvamar.

“As soon as we made this tournament 18 holes, a lot of teams jumped aboard,” Hershiser said. “All and all, it was a pretty good day.”

Free State High golfer Ashley Robinson putts during the Eagle Bend Invitational. The Firebirds tied for eighth place in the team standings Monday at Eagle Bend Golf Course.