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NIXA — The day will surely come when Charlie King can look back at his high school golf career and appreciate the successes that came his way.

Tuesday, May 19 was not that day.

The Smithville High senior wanted no part of chatting about his three consecutive trips to Missouri’s state championships, his past all-state recognition or his legacy as arguably the top boys golfer to ever suit up for the Warriors.

In fact, he didn’t want to talk much at all, momentarily soured by his disappointing finish at this year’s Class 3 state championships.

Standing near the 18th green at Fremont Hills Country Club on May 19, all King could do was keep glancing back at the course and shaking his head, the result of a second-round 84. What he labeled as his "worst round of the season" dropped him from a tie for seventh place after the first day of play — when he carded a 76 — all the way off the all-state leaderboard reserved for the top 15 performers.

"I know Charlie’s going to be very disappointed," said Smithville coach Trevor Mosby. "He already said, ‘I’m not playing golf for a week when we get back.’

"He lost his swing a little bit, was searching, and it’s too tough of a course (for that)."

Full of tight, tree-lined fairways with a varying assortment of dips and drops, Fremont Hills is the type of layout quite capable of penalizing any player who doesn’t come prepared with every shot in the bag.

"Yeah, and unfortunately, I suffered a lot of those penalties today," said King, who found little to enjoy about his drives, his wedges or his putting. "It’s hard to pull something positive from today’s round. I just need to stay in it and keep my head."

King wasn’t alone in his dissatisfaction about his play this week.

Smithville junior Jake Fletcher also struggled to master the state challenge, putting together back-to-back rounds of 83 and 88 for a two-day total of 171.

"(Monday) I wasn’t happy with it when I got done, then I looked back at it and thought it was all right," Fletcher said. "Today … I just couldn’t put a good swing on the ball. That’s golf.

"A 74 at districts, then 83 and 88 here. Up and down."

However, unlike King, Fletcher was able to find a few positives to hold on to, and they displayed the maturity that will be key next season when he finds himself as Smithville’s lone returning starter.

"This year I had a lot less nerves," said Fletcher, who also competed at state in 2008. "I know looking at my score it doesn’t seem that way.

"I had a different perspective this year, because I realized it is just a game. It’s nothing to get too worked up about.

"At least we had nice weather. That’s different from last year."

As far as on the course, the tournament wasn’t a total loss for the Northland. Kearney sophomore Ryan Zech won the individual title with a two-day total of 139, including a blistering 5-under 66 in Monday’s opening round.

That helped the Bulldogs to a second-place team finish, two shots behind team champion Warrensburg.

Sports Editor Scott Tittrington can be reached at 389-6632 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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