WATERLOO - Jon Tink can smash a golf ball 300 yards.

He can knock down a flagstick with a 7-iron from the fairway.

He can get up-and-down from a difficult lie off the green.

Still, those closest to Tink believe the "15th club" is a significant reason the Waterloo Christian senior has an opportunity to join an elite list of golfers this weekend at the boys' state tournament.

"His mental toughness sets him apart," teammate Jared Segerstrom said.

"His maturity on the course is the difference between him and everybody else," coach Todd Kuntz said. "I'm sure there's people he plays against that are better drivers of the ball, better iron players and better putters, but his ability to limit mistakes and bounce back from them is rare to see at this level."

Tink says that maturity comes from growing up with two older brothers.

"I was picked on quite a bit and maybe that taught me to control myself," he said. "Maybe the Lord just gave me a good head."

Since the boys' state tournament started in 1928, only two players have won three individual titles - Kevin Neill of Preston (1985-87) and Sean McCarty of West Branch (1989-91). Tink can become the third when the Class 1A 36-hole meet begins at noon Friday at Spring Valley Golf Course in Livermore.

For the past three years, Tink has been perfect in the season's marquee tournaments. He owns three Iowa Star Conference championships, three sectional titles and three district victories.

Now, he's trying to add an elusive third state championship - at a venue where he won his previous two state titles.

"I think it would be pretty special," Tink said. "Coming from Iowa, you wouldn't think you can do anything special with golf, but those guys (Neill and McCarty) have. Maybe I can continue to go on.

"I'm just thankful for the abilities God has given me and the effort I've put into them."

Kuntz said there has been somewhat of a "celebrity factor" surrounding Tink on the course this spring.

"I've heard multiple coaches say they've had talks with their team about who wanted to be paired with Jon or who could handle it," Kuntz said. "There have been coaches who have moved their No. 1s down so they don't have to play with him.

"It's almost been like a Tiger (Woods) effect this year, and you don't see that with high schoolers."

Thanks to Jack Griffin, who prepped at Waterloo West, Tink got interested in golf. The two grew up playing at Sunnyside Country Club and competed in various junior tournaments.

"We'd get dropped off at the golf course in the morning and picked up at night," Tink said. "We'd play all day."

In junior high, Tink started playing more competitive events. As a freshman, he reached the state tournament and finished tied for eighth.

"Getting there as a freshman helped me know that I can do it," he said. "I just kept getting better each year."

In 2007, he became the first athlete to win a state title, in any sport, at Waterloo Christian, holding off Hinton's Josh Solma by a stroke. Last year, in brutal weather conditions, Tink shot 77 and 80 to outlast NU High's Ben Peterson by a shot.

"When conditions are like that and I didn't play well, I remember I wasn't even happy," Tink said. "Shooting an 80 the second day just seems horrible.

"I came home and told people I shot 77, 80. And they're like, 'You won?' I was just able to stick it out."

Tink seems to thrive on tough conditions. While his scorecard isn't usually filled with circles (birdies), it also doesn't feature many squares (bogeys).

"If you just played one round with him and didn't know where he came from, you wouldn't say, 'Wow,'" Segerstrom said. "He's just ultra-consistent. He's the most consistent golfer every single week, no matter the conditions."

Tink's success has brought a lot of recognition for Waterloo Christian, which is the third-smallest school in the state in high school enrollment.

"It's by the far the biggest thing for our school and its history," Segerstrom said.

Kuntz said, "It's a real testament to what he's meant to the other guys. He's gotten them interested in the game, and they want to spend the time now to get better."

Tink will continue his golfing career at Division III Wheaton College, a Christian liberal arts school in suburban Chicago next season. Both of Tink's brothers attended Wheaton, along with his aunt and uncle.

"Ever since I was little, I had dreams of going to Arizona State or somewhere like that," he said. "Realistically, I had thoughts of going to Iowa for golf, but sometimes other things are more important than golf."

Tink is taking a wait and see approach with golf.

"A lot of people say to me, 'You're going to be on the PGA Tour,' but I try to be realistic about it," he said. "I'm going to play in college and see how much better I get and how it goes.

"Sometimes I look up to Zach Johnson and what he's done. Maybe there's hope for me. We'll see."

State tournament glance

When: Friday (noon); Saturday (8 a.m.)

Where: Class 1A (Livermore, Spring Valley Golf Course); Class 2A (Panora, Lake Panorama National Resort); Class 3A (Rhodes, The Harvester Golf Club)

2008 champions: 1A - NU High; 2A - PCM, Monroe; 3A - Ballard

Area 1A contingent: Grundy Center and Mason City Newman appear to be the front-runners for the team race. The Spartans shot a 300 to beat the Knights by five strokes at last week's district meet in Cedar Falls. The Spartans, who won titles in 2003 and '05, have four juniors and a sophomore among their top six. NU High sophomore Joe Weber and East Buchanan senior Jordan Conrad are in the field. Weber shot a 71 at the district meet.

Area 2A contingent: Waterloo Columbus, Denver and Sumner-Fredericksburg are among the 10 teams competing for the title. PCM (Monroe) and Kuemper Catholic are the favorites, but the Sailors have won six team championships. Columbus is led by sophomore Adam Squires and senior Sean Murray. South Hardin's Bill Dunn and Jesup's Alan Schares qualified as individuals.

Area 3A contingent: Independence's Jake Thomas, who finished runner-up in '07 and '08, shot the state's best score at last week's district with a 66 at Marion's Gardner Golf Course. Decorah, one of eight teams in the field, has three freshmen and three juniors in its lineup. Ballard is seeking to win its fifth title and third straight.