Free State senior Emily Bermel chips the ball out of the sand pit during the Girls Varsity Tournament at Lawrence Country Club Monday, Oct. 6, 2014.

Last week, Free State High senior golfers Emily Bermel and Karen Campbell were disappointed with the way they were swinging.

Practices didn’t seem to be translating to better play on the courses. Plus, there was the pressure of preparing for the last leg of the Sunflower League and regionals over the next week.

But Monday, most of those problems disappeared. Bermel shot an 81, finishing third overall, while Campbell posted a score of 87, which put her in 10th place.

The two helped the Firebirds to fifth place in the team standings at the FSHS Invitational at Lawrence Country Club.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit lately, and I’ve been getting really frustrated because I’ve been practicing a lot,” Bermel said. “I was content with my 81. It’s a lot better and kind of what I should be shooting. So I was happy with it.”

Bermel knew she was in for a strong day when she posted a par on the first hole and stayed consistent on the front nine.

She was able to adjust to the fast greens on her putts, and she only missed the fairway once on her drives.

“It definitely helps knowing the course, for sure,” Bermel said. “But it’s a tough course. The greens are hard, and they’re fast, and some of the locations are pretty tricky — some of the holes are crazy. But if you know it, it definitely helps a lot. It was nice to have a home-course advantage.”

Bermel and Campbell know the LCC course as well as anybody. They have jobs in the bag room and have shot plenty of practice rounds together.

Campbell, who called her swing a “catastrophe” last week, still isn’t satisfied but is much happier to see more consistency.

“Eighty-seven is a lot more in range where I need to be shooting every week,” Campbell said. “I’m really happy with that, especially at this course, which is a lot harder than all the other courses we play and a lot tougher greens, and all that.”

FSHS coach Layne Meyer added: “The fact that the tournament was here and we practice here probably helps, but it shouldn’t take away from the fact that they played really well today.”

Lawrence High’s only golfer, Bonnie Reinsch, shot a 125 and tied for 74th place.

Both schools will compete in the final leg of the Sunflower League at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Andrews.

Free State Invitational

Monday at Lawrence Country Club

Team Scores: Shawnee Mission East 355, Mill Valley/De Soto 365, St. Thomas Aquinas 366, Olathe Northwest 382, Free State 384, Blue Valley 387, Blue Valley Northwest 390, Blue Valley North 394, Washburn Rural 402, Shawnee Mission South 407, Blue Valley Southwest 419, Shawnee Mission Northwest 422, Olathe South 437, Olathe East 438.

Medalists: 1. Kaleigh Ashen, BVNW, 73; 2. Tatum King, STA, 80; 3. Emily Bermel, FS, 81; 4. Jessica Parker, SME, 81; 5. Jamie Rickert, BVSW, 82; 6. Nikkie McCurdy, BVSW, 83; 7. Brittani Jenson, MVD, 84; 8. Bella Hadden, MVD, 84; 9. Maddie Kroll, BVN, 86; 10. Karen Campbell, FS, 87.

Free State results: 3. Emily Bermel, 81; 10. Karen Campbell, 87; t-50. Sydney Buller, 107; t-53. Anne Goebel, 109; t-53. Savannah Reeb, 109; 59. Erin Meyers, 113.

Lawrence High result: t-74. Bonnie Reinsch, 125.

Mill Valley/De Soto results: 7. Brittani Jenson, 84; 8. Bella Hadden, 84; t-24. Meg Green, 97; t-34. Holly Webb, 100; 44. Grace Van Inwegen, 103; t-63. Courtney Carlson, 115.