Matt Zerfass went into the PIAA East Regional Golf Championships with narrow goals and expectations. He just wanted to play his best and let the chips fall where they may.

He did exactly that. The Emmaus sophomore posted his fourth straight postseason round in the 70s, shooting 71 Monday at Golden Oaks Golf Course to finish tied for fifth at the regional and earn a trip to the state championships next week.

“I had no expectations for myself, just come out and play the best I can play and if I make it, I make. If I don’t it’s OK,” Zerfass said. “I feel great about the way I played. I took smart shots. I think I had a few bad shots but overall I kept my cool and kept moving on.”

Zerfass will be joined at states by Emmaus teammate Michelle Cox, who finished tied for ninth in the girls field at regionals.

Zerfass’s round didn’t get off to the best start. After parring his first hole (he started on No. 2), he hit his tee shot out of bounds on his next hole then scrambled for bogey.

He got to even par with a birdie on his fifth hole and went to 1-under with a birdie on his eight hole (the par 3 ninth hole).

A birdie on his 11th hole was sandwiched between bogeys on his 10th and 12th hole, but he got back to 1-under par with a birdie on his 17th hole, the par 5 finishing hole at Golden Oaks.

He finished off the round with a routine par on No. 1. He said all facets of his game were working Monday.

“The driver was great,” he said. “I hit almost every green. The chipping was great, the wedges.”

Zerfass said Golden Oaks is a good course for a player who can manage a course.

“I think it suits my game awesome,” he said. “I think it’s a tricky course and you have to put it in smart spots and I think that’s exactly what I do on most courses.”

In his four postseason high school tournaments this fall, Zerfass has shot rounds of 73, 73, 77 and 71. He advances to the state tournament for the first time in his high school career after playing in regionals for the season straight season.

“I’m very excited,” Zerfass said. “This year [qualifying for states] was my goal from the first match of the season.

“My goal [at states] is to play the best I can play.”

Cox is making her second trip to the state championship tournament. She finished 13th at states last year.

She made 13 pars and five bogeys to shoot a round of 5-over par 77 on Monday.

Cox, a junior, finished three shots under the cut line to reach the state championships, which will be held next Monday and Tuesday at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York.

The two Emmaus players were part of a group of five District 11 players that advanced.

In boys Class 3A, Liberty’s Matt Vital earned a place in states. In boys Class 2A, Palmerton’s Tyler Hager was the final qualifier. And in girls Class 2A, Moravian Academy’s Grace Sanborn played well enough to extend her season.