As course conditions deteriorated at Deer Lake Golf Course, so did Cameron’s chance at a second-day comeback.

But the Dragons’ top four shot as well or better than they did Monday to fuel a comeback that landed them in second place at the conclusion of the Class 2 Golf Championships in Springfield, Mo.

“We were a little disappointed in yesterday, but I’m proud of this group and how they kept battling,” Cameron coach Kevin Nichols said. “That’s how this team’s been all year.”

Senior Daniel O’Connor, a three-time qualifier, used his previous state experience to whittle eight shots off his Day 1 total and leapfrog a slew of individuals. He finished in a three-way tie for 15th place after a second-day 77 gave him a 162.

Freshman Elijah Hall (T-18th, 163) and senior Trent White (T-23rd, 166) weren’t far behind, while A.J. Blackmon’s five-shot improvement to a 171 helped his team finish five strokes ahead of third-place Arcadia Valley.

“It’s a team effort with these guys. You never know who’s going to be the low guy,” Nichols said.

Cameron’s 660 team total gave the school its highest finish in school history after a fourth-place finish in 1993, and their Day 2 324 team score was the best of the day, 1 stroke better than champion Ash Grove.

Bishop LeBlond, meanwhile, tumbled from its first day No. 2 position and finished sixth. The Golden Eagles received an even more balanced effort from its qualifiers, who finished within four strokes of each other.

After carding a 75 on the first day, freshman Mitchell Culver (168) struggled in a group of more experienced players and dropped into a tie for 30th, a stroke behind brother Stephen (T-26th, 167). Tom Schoeneck (30th) and Brian McCullough (170) weren’t far behind.

Schoeneck is the only member of the group not returning in 2009.

“I think they had a blast. To take the team down was a great experience,” LeBlond coach Pat Clark said. “Obviously, they were a little disappointed, but they’re already talking about next year.”

Lawson senior Jared King, who won the Class 2 title as a freshman, finished third to earn his fourth state medal.

In Bolivar, Mo., West Nodaway’s Garrett Carver slipped one spot to fifth place in the Class 1 tournament — the highest finish of his four state trips.

Now a two-time medalist, Carver went out with the final group of the day and birdied the first hole to get off to a good start. He faded down the front 9, however, and trailed by eight heading into the courses’ second half.

He would pull to within three after 14 holes but couldn’t quite match the play of the rest of the group, which all tied for the state title.

“I took a couple chances, trying to get something spectacular,” said Carver, who signed on to play next season with Johnson County Community College. “I just needed a solid round, and I didn’t really have it.”

Tarkio’s Derek Hawkins (7th, 159) and Adam Alitz (15th, 163) of Rock Port also turned in medal-winning performances at the meet. Rock Port finished fourth in the team standings after improved efforts from Jason McGuire (T-51st) and Seth Showalter (T-57th).

Savannah junior Derek Baade continued his struggles in Springfield, Mo., but bounced back to finish in a tie for 34th. The defending state champion shot a 79, a five-shot improvement, to conclude the Class 2 meet with a 163.

Midland Empire Conference rivals Charlie King (T-7th, 155) of Smithville and Chillicothe’s Logan Gilliand (T-10th, 156) played well enough to maintain their top-10 position for a state medal.

In Republic, Mo., Central sophomore Cameron Moore wrapped up his first state experience with a 107th-place finish at Island Green Golf Course. Moore followed up his Day 1 score of 86 with a 17-over 89 — giving him a total of 175.

Sports reporter Andy Meyer can be reached at andymeyer@npgco.com