Theodore Roosevelt was a well-known adventure-seeker, the kind of guy who always accepted a challenge, no matter how large.

As far as anyone can tell, though, he never operated a golf school.

Nonetheless, Upper St. Clair seniors E.J. McFarland and Marshall Brown likely could have been Roosevelt proteges. Both accept challenges readily and they have something else in common with the former president.

"You can't get them to say anything," Upper St. Clair coach Todd Flynn said. "I've had coaches and other players come up to me after their matches and wonder if they're angry or upset because neither one of them has much to say. They don't talk a lot. They just go out and play."

In other words, when it comes to their golf games, the two longtime friends speak softly and carry some pretty good sticks.

Both played well enough in last week's WPIAL championship tournament at Diamond Run to qualify for yesterday's PIAA Western Regional at Tom's Run. The top 22 players from yesterday's tournament advance to the PIAA championships.

Flynn believes both have the game and the mental composure to get there and play well.

"E.J. is a tough customer," Flynn said. "I think the way he played in the WPIAL championships showed the kind of game he has. With Marshall, if you see him come off the course, it's impossible to tell if he's just shot 3-under or 3-over. They both stay on an even keel."

McFarland shot a 3-over par 75, five shots off the winning pace set by Plum senior Adam Stawski in the WPIAL tournament. Brown was 6-over 78. McFarland's round was marked when he hit one out of bounds on the fourth hole and then took a triple bogey on the fifth. He kept things together, though, and managed several birdies on the back nine to advance.

"I played pretty well after [the fifth hole]," McFarland said. "I just tried to stay positive and make a few pars. I made some birdies on the easy par 5s on the back nine and that got me back."

Brown also played well but said he felt he had a number of chances to score better. His putter deserted him a couple of times, but he was able to make enough pars to advance.

"I thought I played OK," Brown said. "I hit the ball well, but I didn't putt as well as I would have liked. But I kept the ball in play pretty well. I hit the irons, too. I just want to putt better than that."

McFarland and Brown have been friends since they can remember and have been playing golf together and against each other for almost as long. There seems to be no real rivalry between them. Each hopes for the other to play well, but admits he does not worry about the other when trying to score.

"We're good friends," McFarland said. "It seems like we always have been. I think it helps me because I see him playing well and that makes me want to play well.

"But I don't root against him or anything. I try to worry more about what I've got to do when I'm playing. I don't think too much about what he's doing or what anyone else is doing, really."

Brown offered a similar take on their relationship.

"We've been friends all our lives," he said. "I like to play with him because he always plays well. When I see him playing well, that just makes me want to play better."

Both players set goals before this season to advance to the PIAA championships. Flynn said both are capable of advancing because they have the right combination of skill, knowledge of the game and demeanor on the course.

"I have to say that as a coach, you couldn't ask for two better kids," he said. "They've just been great here all four years."

So much so, in fact, that McFarland and Brown talked Flynn into coaching this year. Flynn retired from teaching at the end of the last school year and was planning to retire from coaching. But after having worked with him for three years, McFarland and Brown asked him to come back for their senior seasons.

"They've been so great over the years," Flynn said. "How could I say no to them after all they have done? I'm really happy for both of them with the way they've played. Now I just want to see how this all ends for them.

"They will play well, I'm sure."