BLAIRSVILLE — It wasn't Brett Rinker's best day on the golf course.

But it turned out to be the best day of any Slippery Rock High boys golfer in 43 years.

Rinker, a freshman, shot a 78 to finish tied for 18th at the PIAA Western Regional at Tom's Run Golf Course Wednesday.

It was good enough for Rinker to advance to the PIAA championships, which begins Monday at Heritage Hills Resort in York.

Rinker is the first Slippery Rock boys golfer to advance to the state tournament in the 43 years of the program.

"Last Friday, when it was 42 degrees and raining, he was out practicing," said Slippery Rock golf coach Merle Whitmer. "A lot of guys who played in today's tournament were probably at home playing PlayStation while he was out there putting Friday. That gives you an idea of the amount of commitment he had."

Rinker said he was aware of the history before he began his round Wednesday.

Rinker shot a 38 on his first nine holes of the day, but struggled down the stretch, shooting a 40 on the final nine to barely make the cut.

The top 24 advanced to the state tournament. Four players shot a 79 to tie for the final spot and a playoff determined who advanced.

"I was just kind of grinding it out at the end," Rinker said. "I was just trying to do my best. It wasn't my best day, but it feels great."

While the temperature was warm and sunshine abundant, the course was soggy.

The conditions made the course play longer and the USGA rules made for a rough afternoon for some golfers.

"You had to play the ball down," Whitmer said. "If you had a chunk of mud on your ball, there was nothing you could do about it. You couldn't touch your ball until it was on the green."

Rinker said it was pretty tough to make it through a hole, let alone the round, without mud caking the golf ball.

"You just had to do the best you could," Rinker said.

Now, he gets a clean slate next week.

Grove City's Ryan Prokay also advanced, finishing tied for fourth with a 74.

Rinker has played the Heritage Hills course before and plans to play practice rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Rinker said it is a narrow and unforgiving course.

One thing is for sure, though: no matter what happens, Rinker will be unflappable.

He's played in big touraments as a matter or routine since he was 9. A state tournament won't faze him, he said.

"It helps you out a lot," Rinker said. "I'll be a little nervous, but it's nothing I have never faced before."

Rinker's older sister, Jenna, was the first golfer in Slippery Rock High history to make the state tournament when she advanced to the PIAA girls championships as a junior.

She also made it as a senior and now golfs for Clarion University women's team.

"They've kind of kept it in the family," Whitmer said.