Jack Williams made a statement that left no room for debate: he was the undisputed king of the course. The Claremore standout delivered a masterclass performance Monday at Oak Hills Golf & Country Club, capturing the Class 5A regional title by a commanding seven strokes. His dominant showing propelled the Zebras to a third-place team finish and secured their ticket to the state tournament.
Claremore posted a team score of 637, finishing third out of 13 teams and comfortably inside the top six needed to qualify for state. Carl Albert claimed the team title with a 625. The Zebras now set their sights on defending their state championship from last season, heading to Shangri-La Golf Club in Afton on May 11-12.
Williams was in complete control from the opening tee shot, finishing at 139 to earn medalist honors. His first round set the tone for the day. After a steady front nine featuring eight pars and a lone bogey on No. 7, he turned on the jets down the stretch. He birdied No. 9 to make the turn at even par, then added birdies on Holes 13 and 16 before delivering a spectacular eagle on the par-5 18th to close with a 3-under 33 on the back nine.
Williams went out in 35, highlighted by birdies on Nos. 4, 7, and 8. He stayed steady on the back with another birdie on No. 10, then closed with eight straight pars, finishing with a 70 and sealing a dominant victory that left his competitors in the dust.
Tate Dunlap added a strong showing for the Zebras, finishing sixth overall. He birdied Nos. 2 and 5 early, then overcame a double bogey on No. 6 with a highlight-reel eagle on the par-5 eighth hole to go out in 35. On the back nine, he added a birdie on No. 11 but mixed in a few bogeys to finish with a 38. Dunlap battled through a tough front nine that included a double bogey on No. 6, going out in 42. He responded on the back with birdies on Nos. 11 and 16, but additional doubles on 10 and 15 kept him from climbing higher on the leaderboard as he closed with a 39.
Claremore’s depth proved crucial in securing the state berth. Kavan Smith finished 23rd with a 170, Tristan Fuller placed 29th at 174, and Cooper Mason added a 188. The Zebras are now in prime position to chase another state title, and with Williams leading the charge, they have all the firepower they need to make a deep run.