Reaching the WPIAL championships for the first time in his three-year high school career, Trinity golfer Brent Bigler's top priority was qualifying for the PIAA Western Regional.

Only half of the 48-player field advanced to the regional but after the first three holes of the WPIAL tournament, even that did not seem likely for Bigler. He bogeyed those three and found himself in an early hole at the Diamond Run Golf Club in Ohio Township.

His coach at Trinity, Jim Osborn, had heard of his junior's struggles on the first three holes but by the time the two crossed paths after the 10th hole, Bigler had drawn back to par. He made up for his early bogeys with birdies on holes eight, nine and 10.

"I should have managed the course better early on," Bigler said. "I was trying to play pretty aggressively, but I was able to settle down after that. Mentally, I am pretty tough and I knew I could bring it back."

By the end of the day, not only had Bigler qualified for the regional but the junior golfer finished in a three-way tie for fourth, shooting a 1-over 73. Bigler is one of 24 golfers from the WPIAL to advance to the Western Regional Wednesday at Tom's Run Golf Club in Blairsville.

"Brent, as much as any player, can be unpredictable," Osborn said. "He can start strong or finish strong. In this case, he sure did finish strong. And that course was as difficult as I have seen.

"Brent rarely shows emotion and that is his strength. It doesn't bother him in the least playing with all these exceptionally talented players. He can keep right with them."

Senior Adam Stawski of Plum won the WPIAL championship, shooting a 2-under 70 with Justin Newbauer of South Side Beaver and Derek Jones of Burrell both shooting 72 to tie for second.

This was Bigler's first trip to the WPIAL championships but he was not intimidated by the atmosphere and playing alongside 48 of the top golfers from the area. He knows most of the golfers from playing summer tournaments.

"I felt like I could play with all of them," Bigler said. "Just to know I can compete with them is pretty cool."

Bigler is one of only two Trinity golfers in Osborn's 10 years of coaching at the school to advance beyond the WPIAL championships. In 2005 Osborn coached a sophomore, John Popeck to the state finals.

Popeck transferred to Chartiers-Houston for his final two years and is now on the University of Maryland golf team. This season Bigler challenged the Trinity school record for season average held by Popeck. Bigler averaged 36.5 strokes per nine holes while Popeck's school record is 35.6.

"I have had two really exceptional golfers in my 10 years at the school," Osborn said. "John was as long a player off the tee as I have ever seen and Brent has an excellent short game. It is definitely his strength; he can get up and down."

In his freshman year at Trinity Bigler was a varsity letter-winner.

"I knew he was going to be a player when I saw him, but truthfully I don't think any coach is going to expect that a freshman down the road is going to finish in the top four [of the WPIAL] as a junior," Osborn said.

"I am so elated for Brent. He has improved each year and become more dedicated in the offseason programs."

Another Hillers golfer, sophomore Josh Valentic, reached the WPIAL semifinals. Valentic and Bigler are two of the four returning golfers Osborn will have next season. The Hillers finished 3-11 in the section this season going up against larger south suburban schools in their section.

"It is very difficult to compete against those bigger schools from the South Hills. We are kind of behind the eight ball," Osborn said.

"I was thrilled that Brent was able to beat a lot of those guys and he did it through his own hard work."

If Bigler can advance beyond the PIAA Western Regional, he will advance to the PIAA championships Oct. 21-22 at Heritage Hills in York, Pa.