Free State's Genny Salvatore tees off on the first hole. Salvatore was the only Lawrence golfer to break 100, shooting a 99 at the Lawrence Invitational on Thursday at Alvamar.

Lawrence high golfer Hilary Ferguson chips from the fairway as Shawnee Mission South's Sarah Pickell, left, and Topeka Washburn Rural's Lauryn Davis, right, look on. Ferguson shot a 114 at the Lawrence Invitational on Thursday at Alvamar. Teammate Kalli McClure shot a team-best 111.

Overland Park Aquinas dominated the field Thursday during the Lawrence Invitational at Alvamar Public Golf Course, but Lawrence High and Free State’s girls golfers were pleased with their play.

Aquinas’ Gianna Misenhelter won the event after posting a 75. She was joined by three teammates in the top 10, which gave Aquinas a 17-stroke advantage over the second-place team, Blue Valley West, and a team title.

Host LHS finished 16th at the event, and Free State was unable to post a team score because only three of its golfers – one short of the four required – played.

But Free State’s Genny Salvatore shot a 99 – the lowest score for either Lawrence school – and teammates Catherine Smith (108) and Kelly Morris (110) weren’t too far behind her pace.

Salvatore said she was happy with her score despite a few regrets.

“I was playing really well at practice, so I feel like I could’ve done better,” Salvatore said. “I had some shots that I easily could’ve avoided.”

The same could be said for the Lions’ golfers Thursday.

Senior Kalli McClure led the way with a 111, and Hilary Ferguson had three more strokes.

“I shot really well driving and chipping, but putting was kind of my downfall, and I didn’t really piece it all together,” Ferguson said.

The Lions were happy with their overall play, despite their 16th-place finish.

“I think we did a little bit better than we did at Eagle Bend,” Ferguson said of last week’s Firebird Invitational, where LHS finished 14th in a smaller field. “I think, as a team, we did pretty well.”

LHS coach Mike Lewis agreed.

“I felt like, as a team, we came out and were more focused this week than we were last, maybe a little bit more competitive,” he said, adding that each Lion made progress.

Ferguson said the Lions had struggled with their chipping and putting of late and needed to fix the problem.

“That’s where a lot of the girls, I think, are having their problems,” she said. “But I think that’ll solve a lot of our scores.”

Lewis said he wanted his girls to remain positive.

“I would definitely like to finish higher than 16th, but I also have things in perspective where I know where we’re at, and it definitely would take a lot of strokes for us to really improve in our overall standing,” Lewis said. “In golf it is difficult to shed big numbers over a short period of time.”

Given that assessment, Lewis still thinks LHS will have a chance to compete for a spot in state competition because the regional qualifier will be at Alvamar, the Lions’ home course, on October 8, and Topeka Washburn Rural looks to be the only dominant team in the mix.

If Free State can find a fourth golfer, it should challenge LHS at the regional. The Firebirds lost their top player, sophomore Grace Brahler, when she broke a bone in her foot at cheerleading practice last week.

Firebirds coach Craig Hershiser said Brahler had been at school on crutches, but he didn’t know if or when she’ll be cleared to return.

Salvatore said she hoped one of Free State’s junior varsity golfers could be the fourth player the team needs in order to place at events.

“It would be awesome if one of them could step up and come to one of the tournaments with us,” Salvatore said. “I think we’re doing OK. It’s sad not having Grace, but I think we’re doing good and have good team spirit.”