GOLF: Williams catches fire on back 9 as Claremore claims conference title

Jack Williams saved his best for last, and it carried Claremore to a championship. After an even-par front nine, Williams caught fire on the back side at Shangri-La Resort, carding a 3-under 33 with 4 birdies to finish at 69 and lead the Zebras to the Metro Lakes Conference title Wednesday in Afton. Claremore won the boys team championship with a 320, finishing first out of seven teams behind a dominant one-two punch from Williams and Tate Dunlap.

BOYS Williams opened with nine steady holes, recording a birdie on the par-5 fourth while mixing in 7 pars and a lone bogey on No. 6 to make the turn at even-par 36. Then came the surge.

Williams bogeyed No. 10 but immediately responded with a birdie on the par-3 11th. He added another birdie on the par-3 13th, then really took control with back-to-back birdies on holes 14 [par 4] and 16 [par 5].

He closed with pars on 17 and 18 to seal a 69 — 3 strokes under par — and the individual title. Dunlap, who finished third with a 75, also delivered on the back nine. After a tough start that included 5 bogeys on the front, Dunlap made the turn at 41 but flipped the round on the back.