LEAWOOD ? On paper, today’s second round of the Sunflower League girls golf tournament won’t dictate whether Lawrence High finds a spot in this year’s state field.

However, the mental scorecard the Lions walk away with following this afternoon’s competition at Ironhorse Golf Club will go a long way in determining any postseason aspirations.

LHS enters today’s 12:45 p.m. shotgun start in third place on the team leaderboard at 392 strokes courtesy of its showing during the first round of the league event Sept. 22 at Alvamar Golf Club.

While Lions coach Mike Lewis concedes it will be tough tracking down current leader Shawnee Mission East (378) and second-place Shawnee Mission South (390), he also knows a solid showing will give his squad extra motivation heading into next week’s regional tournament in Topeka – where state berths will be decided.

“I think it would be a big confidence boost for the girls to go out and possibly finish in (the top three) in the league,” Lewis said. “We need someone among our No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 scorers to shoot between 105 and 110. It would be a big confidence boost for them and for our team going into regionals.”

Lewis knows the top two spots are in good hands. Senior Sydney Wilson sits atop the individual leaderboard after firing a 3-over 75 at Alvamar, and classmate Jamie Shmalberg is in the running for a finish near the top of the field thanks to her opening-round 90.

“Sydney, as a senior : she’s been in some tough tournaments and tough situations,” Lewis said. “She’ll know how to go (today) and compete and get herself in a situation where she’s not going to get in a lot of trouble. She’s going to be tough to beat.

“And Jamie, she has a chance also to : possibly shoot a low score and get into the top 10.”

While the Lions seek accolades and momentum, cross-town rival Free State is looking solely at the second part of that equation.

The Firebirds only had two players – Katy Hoffman (98) and Ashley Robinson (109) – compete at Alvamar, making them ineligible for a team score. Consequently, they don’t figure into today’s battle for a championship.

Still, Free State coach Craig Hershiser sees today’s round as a beneficial building block for his squad heading into regionals.

“We just approach it in the sense of taking our kids and playing the best we can on a very challenging course,” Hershiser said.

“I think we want what we’ve wanted all year: good course management and good decisions on the course to put us in the position we want to be in – to post good scores.”