That was the goal Thursday when play began at the CIF Southern Section's boys golf finals at Temecula Creek Inn's Stonehouse/Oaks composite course.
Five Inland golfers and Riverside Poly's team started the day with hopes of extending their seasons.
Chaparral senior Troy Song, who shot a 3-under-par 68 and finished tied for sixth, was one of three area golfers competing as individuals who accomplished that goal. Joining Song at next week's CIF State regional final will be Linfield Christian senior Luke Bohmer and Great Oak freshman Dominic Wilson, who shot rounds of 71 (E) and 72 (+1), respectively, to advance.
Crespi's Grant Leary won the section's individual title after a 5-under-par round of 66. Palm Desert, Santa Margarita, La Serna and Sunny Hills all advanced as teams to the regional final.
Riverside Poly saw the best season in program history come to an end as a 13-over-par 368 was six shots outside of fourth place and the final team bid.
Grady Emerson led the Bears with a 3-under-par 68 and joined Song in that tie for sixth place. Emerson made two birdies in his first four holes and finished with three in a seven-hole stretch. UC Riverside signee and Ivy League champion Sam Bonzoumet finished his career with a 1-under-par 70, making three birdies in a five-hole stretch to offset a trio of early bogeys.
Bohmer, the Central Region's individual champion, started with two birdies in three holes. He made perhaps the day's best par save on Stonehouse's second hole -- a 332-yard, par-4 -- after sticking a short-sided wedge shot from 70 yards under a tree to 5 feet and making the putt. A birdie at the 155-yard, par-3 eighth hole allowed him to tie the lead at 3-under par. However, a double-bogey at the par-5 ninth (his 12th hole of the day) knocked him two shots off the lead with six to play.
After crossing to the Oaks side again, Bohmer made one last birdie at the 498-yard, par-5 second hole to get back to 2-under par. A double-bogey at his penultimate hole left him waiting before finding out he made the cut
"These kinds of rounds are a test of patience and I think I've done a pretty good job of doing that so far this postseason," Bohmer said. "Even though I played well on the South Course previously, next Thursday is a new day and a new challenge that I'll be ready for."
Song played his first six holes in 1 under par, including an eagle on the 500-yard, par-5 16th (his fourth hole of the day) and was at one point a shot out of the lead. He birdied his last two par 5s of the day, which came in a three- hole stretch, to answer a late bogey and earn his second straight trip to the regional final.
"I had a pretty good round today and feel like I've got momentum with me going into the regional final," Song said. "It was definitely tough to be the only player at that final last year who didn't get through from our area but I'm excited for one last opportunity to try and advance."
Wilson made back-to-back birdies and got to 1 under par after five holes. He then played the final 13 holes in 1-over par and also had to wait it before finding out that he advanced.
"I really didn't have a great day with the putter and feel fortunate to be playing next week," Wilson said. "I'm doing this for my friend Sebastian, who passed away during spring break, and never had the opportunity to get this far. He loved this game and fought hard to be out here with us as long as he was this season and no matter how it goes next week golf's just a game that I'm blessed to be out here playing."
Norco's Baron Nguyen, the Big VIII League champion, did not make a birdie in a round of 77 and missed a playoff by three shots.
Santiago's Gavin Carpenter attempted to rally from three double bogeys in four holes to start his round. He made back-to-back birdies and was 4-over par after six holes. But he made just one birdie the rest of the way and shot an 80 to miss the playoff.
Los Serranos Country Club's South Course in Chino Hills will play host to the Southern California regional qualifier May 29.