Rachel Rohanna opens with 4-under 68
Even though she missed the cut last week in Hawaii, Rachel Rohanna felt she had momentum built from her play over the final nine holes.
The Waynesburg Central graduate did carry over that momentum by opening the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic presented by CTBC with a 4-under 68.
Rohanna will be in the top 10 when she tees off today at 12:33 p.m.
So Yeon Ryu holds the first-round lead at 9-under 63.
“I like it a whole lot,” Rohanna responded when asked about her first round. “I hit the driver pretty well and I gave myself chances on the green. I am putting well.”
Rohanna started with four pars and a birdie, then carded back-to-back birdies to go to 3-under. She gave one stroke back with a bogey on No. 8 to play the front nine in 2-under 34.
She made the turn with a par and bogey, then caught fire with three straight birdies. Rohanna closed the back nine with a pair of pars, a bogey and a birdie for another 2-under 34.
Rohanna hit 9-of-14 fairways.
“I had a couple bad tee shots, but I punched out and saved my score,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna hit 15-of-18 greens in regulation and needed 29 putts to navigate the huge greens on Lake Merced Golf Club.
Two of her three bogeys were the result of 3-putts.
“I had two 3-putts, but the greens are huge here. I had a 100-foot putt,” said Rohanna. “It’s like a Pennsylvania course. It’s hilly, fast and firm. It caters to long ball hitters.
“The goal is to keep playing well.”
Generally, Rohanna prefers to have afternoon-morning tee times, especially on the heels of a successful first round. But, this time she doesn’t mind the afternoon start.
“I’ve been kinda tired with the time changes. I don’t mind the extra rest,” said Rohanna.