SLIPPERY ROCK — Brett Rinker lined up the last few golf balls he had left on the driving range, grabbed a short wedge and lofted arcing shot after arcing shot at a flag a mere 100 yards away.

“Most kids would grab a driver for those last few shots, but not him,” said Slippery Rock High golf coach Merle Whitmer. “He just understands it. He’s a different breed.”

Rinker, a senior on the Slippery Rock golf team, has been medalist 36 times in his stellar high school career.

He’s hoping to cap his run with a 37th.

Rinker will be shooting for a state title when the two-round PIAA Individual Boys Golf Championships begin Monday at Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center in York.

Rinker was surprised by his medalist count.

“I didn’t realize I had that many wins,” Rinker said. “It means a lot because I have played against a lot of great players.”

A lot of those players were at Riverside Golf Club in Cambridge Springs Oct. 9 for the District 10 Class AAA Boys Golf Championships.

Rinker had to finish in the top two to advance to the West Region.

“Just getting out of the district was tough,” Whitmer said. “I think he had more pressure there than in any event he has played.”

Rinker not only advanced, but he won the district crown by shooting a 74. It was his first district title after losing it in a playoff as a freshman and finishing second the last two seasons.

“I had always been close to winning it, but I never actually did it,” Rinker said. “So, it was finally nice to get it.”

At the West Region, he shot an even-par 72 to place second and advance to the state tournament.

“I’m happy I made it through, but I didn’t play really well,” Rinker said. “I had four three-putts. I left quite a few shots out there.”

Rinker said he won’t have that luxury when the state championship tournament begins Monday.

He will play a practice round at Heritage Hills Sunday.

Rinker is quite familiar with the course and also with the pressure of big tournaments.

Rinker began playing at a young age and has been a mainstay at local golf events over the years.

“You start to feel more comfortable the more tournaments you play in,” Rinker said. “You still get nervous, though, at the beginning of every round.”

Rinker said he will work extensively on his short game in preparation for the state tournament.

“I spend more time on that than anything else,” Rinker said.

Rinker, who doesn’t know where he will play in college next season, said winning a state title has always been one of his top goals.

He finished third in the state tournament as a sophomore and failed to advance last year.

“I’m going in with the attitude of just keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Rinker said. “It would be great to win a state championship, but I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself.”