Lawrence High's Beatrice Lopez watches her drive from the 14th tee box on Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 at Lawrence Country Club.

Lawrence High girls golf coach Jennifer Schmitt remembers the day sophomores Beatrice Lopez and Emily Johnson signed up for the golf team.

A year later and both of them qualified for the Class 6A state golf tournament. The Lions, along with four golfers from Free State, will start at 8:30 a.m. today at the Country Club of Leawood.

“It’s kind of unreal to think just a year and two months ago,” Schmitt recalled, “they had walked into a conference room off of the front LHS office thinking, ‘Oh, I might join golf. That sounds cool.'”

Lopez and Johnson earned their spots at state as individual qualifiers. Lopez took 14th at regionals with a 42-over-par 114. Johnson was the fifth and final individual qualifier in 21st place, carding a 142.

Johnson, who only competed in three varsity tournaments, was disappointed with her score, but was in disbelief when Schmitt delivered the news that she was headed to the state tournament — edging another golfer by one stroke.

“Golf is tough because, in (Johnson’s) case, one day she’ll hit a 105 and another she won’t,” Schmitt said. “Throughout it all, her persistence has paid off. Her willingness to stick through the tough rounds to allow herself a good round is what I’m most impressed about.”

Johnson will tee off at hole No. 10 at 8:30 a.m. and Lopez will begin at 9:40 a.m. Lopez placed 91st at the state tournament last year, shooting a 135.

But instead of spending Sunday focused on the upcoming tournament, Schmitt texted Lopez and Johnson to enjoy the nice weather, play frisbee golf and stop thinking about state.

“I just want them to do well and have fun,” Schmitt said. “It’s state and they are there. I want them to have a moment that they will remember. Their scores are, of course, important, but the memories of the state tournament, especially as a sophomore, are what is really important in the scheme of things.”

Free State’s girls golf team only had two varsity golfers last year. Fast forward 12 months and the Firebirds are sending their entire squad to state.

The Firebirds took third place at regionals, earning the third and final spot among team qualifiers. Senior Macie Reeb will be the first member of the Firebirds to tee off at 9 a.m. at hole No. 10.

Reeb and senior Claire Yackley are first-year varsity golfers but played well in their first postseason tournament. Yackley took 16th at regionals with a 116 and Reeb was 17th with a 118.

“Their work at the beginning of the season proved to be beneficial once we started tournament play,” FSHS coach Layne Meyer said. “They performed like veterans right from the start.”

Free State senior Anne Goebel and junior Tori Hoopingarner return from last year’s state tournament. Goebel, a four-time state qualifier, tied for 68th at last year with a 113.

Hoopingarner was 89th at state last year, firing a 127.

“I’m happy for her because she’s improved every year,” Meyer said of Goebel. “I think more now than ever, her real ability is showing. She’s been really talented since she was a freshman.”

Meyer said the Firebirds had their last practice Saturday and spent the last few weeks working on their short games.

Seabury freshman qualifies in 3-2-1A

Bishop Seabury freshman Faith Hedges won a regional title last week and earned a spot at the Class 3-2-1A state tournament in Garden City.

Hedges will tee off from hole No. 1 at 10:10 a.m. today at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course. She carded an 88 at regionals to beat out 34 other golfers.