Rohanna earns Latinoamerica golf card
Robert Rohanna is just one of many golfers, young and old, who dream of teeing it up one day alongside Tiger, Phil, Rory and the other professionals on the PGA Tour.
And, proving the worldwide appeal of professional golf, the Waynesburg Central graduate is taking a big step in that direction after gaining exempt status on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica for the 2014 season.
Rohanna finished tied for sixth in the four-round qualifying tournament hosted by Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club in Sebring, Fla., on Jan. 20-24. He shot 2-under 216 (70-75-71-70) to earn his PGA Tour Latinoamerica card and full exemption all while dealing with unseasonable weather in central Florida.
“There was a cold snap,” explained Rohanna, understanding he would receive little sympathy given current conditions in his hometown. “It was 70 degrees in the first round, but it was really windy in the afternoon and the greens were real fast.
“We had a frost delay the next day. I didn’t finish until Saturday. I never played 18 holes on any one day. I’ve had a rain delay and then come back the next day and finish, but nothing like this. It was freezing. The high temperatures were in the 50s and the wind was blowing.”
The schedule maker wasn’t so kind to Rohanna, either.
“I had a crappy draw. I had to go out at 7:30 (in the morning) on the last three days. It was cold, windy and the greens were rolling fast. I played in winter (golf) gloves and had mittens with hot hands. It was a grind.”
A grind was well worth the trouble as Rohanna prepares for his golf tour of Central and South America. This is the third season the PGA Tour has operated the Latin American tour.
The 16-week tour includes stops in Columbia (2), Mexico (4), Guatemala, Argentina (3), Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Brazil and Chile. Angel Cabrera is the defending champion at one of the tournaments in his native Argentina. The season opens in Columbia on Feb. 17-23, returns a month later in Mexico, takes a break in June, July, August and September, and then resumes on Sept. 29-Oct. 5. The season concludes in the first week of December.
Gone are the days of Monday qualifiers.
“All I have to do is sign up,” said Rohanna.
“Plus, I have playing privileges at all the TPC courses. I can play for free.”
Rohanna is used to playing in a two- or three-day tournament, packing up his car and heading to the next round.
“This is all new to me. I call the tour office. They have a liaison to talk to and ask questions about transportation, airports and hotels. I have some friends on the tour so we can travel together, hang out.”
There is one detail Rohanna will have to deal with by himself.
“My Spanish is a little rusty. I was just looking online for Rosetta Stone or something like that,” said Rohanna.
The purses are smaller than its sister tour in the States, but the opportunity the Latin American tour provides is more than money.
“There are benefits the further along (you go),” said Rohanna. “Finish in the top five and you get exemption on the Web.com Tour. That’s huge. Finish from six to 10 and you go to the final stage of Q School.
“It’s exposure to the tournaments.”