SLIPPERY ROCK — Jacob Wolak eyed the pin, which was set about 30 feet away on an undulating green.

He lined up and chipped his golf ball toward the hole.

It landed and snaked over the green and plopped into the cup.

Then, Wolak did it again.

The 14-year-old Slippery Rock native's short-game prowess at the Westmoreland Country Club Friday was one of the reasons why Wolak won the Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifier there.

“I couldn't believe it,” Wolak said.

Wolak scored 151 points. The second-place finisher scored 107.

Wolak won both the drive and chip competitions and was fourth in the putting contest.

A big key to his success, Wolak said, was his ability to conquer the pressure of the event.

“I was nervous on the first one of everything,” Wolak said. “For my first drive, I just took a little easier swing just to make sure I got a nice straight one.”

In the drive portion of the contest, each golfer got three swings off the tee. The goal was to have the longest drive placed within a narrow, 40-yard grid. Points were awarded based on distance and accuracy.

Wolak placed all three dead center with good distance. His longest drive was 267 yards.

The putting portion was the most difficult, Wolak said.

Each golfer got three putts, the first from six feet, the second from 15 feet and the third from 30 feet.

Wolak and the other competitors had to read the green, which was no picnic.

“The greens were fast,” Wolak said.

He made the 6-footer, but missed his next two putts.

His winning performance landed Wolak in the subregional at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Thursday.

Two years ago, Wolak advanced to the regional and finished seventh, missing out on a chance to compete for a national Drive, Chip and Putt championship at the Masters.

This year, Wolak is all in on getting that one step farther to Augusta.

“I practice a lot,” said Wolak, who lives about one of his tee shots away from Oakview Golf Club. “I set some time aside to hit three drives and I do it until I put three in a row straight and pretty far.”

He does the same while practicing his chipping, as well as on the putting green.

This is his last chance competing in the event.

“It kind of is a motivational thing for me,” Wolak said. “This is my last time and I want to do well.”

Wolak began golfing when he was 4.

He said when he was “about 9 or 10” he began to realize he could be pretty good at the sport.

Wolak plays in as many junior golf tournaments as he can.

“It just gives me experience feeling pressure,” Wolak said.

Like any golfer worth his weight in tees, Wolak said he feels like there is a lot of improvement to be made in his game.

“My putting could be better,” he said. “I can get a lot better at my short game.”

Tell that to the competition he dominated at Westmoreland.

Wolak will be a freshman this year at Slippery Rock High School and said he is eager to begin his prep playing career.

He said his nine-hole average varies between the mid-to-high 30s and the low 40s.

“I've been waiting for a few years to be on the team,” Wolak said. “I'm excited.”