Rohanna shakes off rust at LPGA event
Rachel Rohanna left Highland Meadow Golf Club last Friday afternoon happy she was able to shave a few strokes off her first-round score and, for the most of the round, how she hit the ball in the LPGA Tour鈥檚 Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I.
The Waynesburg Central graduate carded a 4-over 75 in the second round for a two-day total of 12-over 154.
鈥淚 hit the ball similarly to yesterday. I didn鈥檛 make as many putts (as I wanted to),鈥� explained Rohanna. 鈥淭oday, I鈥檓 glad I posted something decent.鈥�
Rohanna opened the second round with a bogey on No. 1. She added a couple more bogeys and six pars to go out in 3-over 34.
She had a tough start after making the turn, opening the back nine with back-to-back bogeys. But, Rohanna played sub-par golf the rest of the way on the back with two birdies and a bogey to finish the back nine in 1-over 38.
Rohanna was pleased with her play off the tee, but not so on the greens. She hit 7-of-14 fairways and 8-of-18 greens in regulation, and cut a few putts off her first round total, needing 30 to complete the round.
鈥淚 was striking the ball pretty good. I hit my driver good. I was not trusting my lines I was picking (on the green),鈥� said Rohanna, adding with a laugh, 鈥淚 chipped in for birdie. Maybe I should鈥檝e missed the green more often.
鈥淚t was hard jumping back to greens that were really firm. I was a foot off. I was not reading (the greens) right. I had very difficult up-and-down shots when I missed the green.鈥�
Rohanna last played in a tournament in March, far longer than she cares to allow.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to stay away from competitive golf too long,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淚 had no expectations. I鈥檓 glad I got this one in.
鈥淢y long game is there. I need to work on my short game. I like to practice and make a competition with myself, put some pressure on myself.鈥�
Rohanna was pleased with how she handled the physical demands of playing a couple rounds of competitive golf.
鈥淧hysically, I feel good. I鈥檓 getting 4-6 hours a sleep a night and that鈥檚 not bad. But, there were times I looked at Ethan and said 鈥業 don鈥檛 remember hitting that shot,'鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淧hysically, my body was ready. My mindset was not ready to go.鈥�
Now that Rohanna has a tour event under her belt, she鈥檒l fill out her calendar as her family life and maternity status will allow. Her maternity leave is for the 2018 calendar year.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure what my plans might be. I鈥檓 not planning on leaving Gemelia (her daughter). I have to play what I can drive to,鈥� said Rohanna.
鈥淚 can play up to 10 events on one tour and six events if I play both tours. Thirty-six hole events count against my maternity leave,鈥� explained Rohanna, who has played one event on both tours. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to play in the Symetra Tour Championship, but it鈥檚 a shortened list this year. I鈥檓 the defending champ. Hopefully, they give me a break or I get a sponsor鈥檚 exemption.
鈥淚鈥檒l have the same status I had last year in 2019. I can only better my status.鈥�
Rohanna鈥檚 daughter caught a few holes of the second round.
鈥淓than pushed her around for six holes,鈥� said Rohanna.
Rohanna had a solid start to her first tournament since March, but faltered later in the first round Thursday afternoon to shoot an 8-over 79.
Rohanna, playing in her first tournament since the birth of her daughter a month ago, was in a tie for 136th place after the first round.
In-Kyung Kim, Yani Tseng, Jacqui Concolino and Katelyn Dambaugh shared the first-round lead at 5-under 66.
Rohanna opened play on No. 10 with a par-par start on the first day.
鈥淚 hit a 5-wood (on the first tee). I was a nice drive, perfect,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淚 got that one out of the way.鈥�
She bogeyed three of the next five holes, but got a stroke back with a birdie-4 on No. 17. However, she gave the stroke back with a bogey on No. 18 to go out in 3-over 40.
The back nine started poorly, although Rohanna was able to rebound.
She had a double bogey-6 on No. 1 after the turn, but followed with five straight pars to remain at 5-over for the round.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to double from 110 yards out,鈥� Rohanna said with a chuckle.
However, Rohanna was unable to keep the par run going, closing out the round with three straight bogeys to come back in 5-over 39.
鈥淚 played pretty solid. I hit the ball well. My putting was pretty atrocious,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淚 hit a couple not-so-great shots, but I played well enough to play even par.鈥�
Rohanna hit 9-of-14 fairways and 9-of-18 greens in regulation. Offcially, she needed 34 putts to complete the first round, but had 37 by her count.
鈥淢y putting was a little bit of everything. I had 10-, 15-foot putts for birdie I was leaving short,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淚 missed greens in not ideal places. It was tough to get up and down.
鈥淭he greens were really firm, but not super fast. I was just not judging things well today.鈥�
鈥淚 had a lot of opportunities I missed for birdies. That would鈥檝e evened out the bogeys,鈥� continued Rohanna.
Rohanna felt she handled the grind of playing 18 holes.
鈥淚 fell great physically. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 frustrating. I wouldn鈥檛 think putting would be my downfall,鈥� said Rohanna.
Rohanna had her family watching her daughter, Gemelia, in the Tour-provided daycare, but the first day on the job, as is the case with new moms, was difficult.
鈥淚 got to see her at the turn for a couple minutes,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have my husband and family out to help me out.鈥�