Some athletes fall in love with their sport later in life, but for McAlester’s Zane Owens, it was practically built into his DNA. “I started golfing at three and loved it ever since,” he said. That early passion has translated into years of dedication and success on the course for the Buffaloes.
Zane credits his family with being the driving force behind his love for the game. “My dad inspired me to play and he is my biggest influence,” he shared. That influence has helped him shape not only his skill but his mindset as a competitor and teammate.
The 2024 season brought some changes to the team, including new talent and adjustments to the lineup. “The team chemistry is great this year considering we lost a member of our starting five and added a freshman, Colby Weat,” Zane said. Through the changes, he’s embraced his leadership role. “I feel like I have the most influence on the team—kind of like the glue guy who tries to make everyone feel better.”
That leadership helped guide the team to success last year, with Zane at the forefront. “Winning the conference championship as a team and individual last year” remains one of his favorite memories on the course. But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. “Last year at Muskogee I had a case of the shanks and played terribly, but I was able to fix it before our conference championship in which I won,” he recalled.
His weekly training is simple and relentless: “Chipping, putting, and playing every day I can.” That work ethic fuels high expectations. “I believe we have a great chance to win state this year,” he said.
Zane’s future is also taking shape. “I see myself getting my golf management degree at UCO and moving to Florida,” he said. While college golf is on the table—“I have a couple of offers to play collegiate golf that I’m considering”—Zane is focused on finishing strong.
And for the younger golfers coming up behind him? “If you hit a couple of bad shots keep your head up—most of the time you get bad breaks anyways.”