Rohanna misses Colombia Open cut by one stroke
Robert Rohanna was cruising through the second round of the 69th Avianca Colombia Open presented by BBVA last Friday, but hit a stumbling block near the end of the day that ultimately cost him the opportunity to play in the weekend rounds.
Rohanna, who entered the second day at 1-over, had five birdies through six holes on his back nine to get to 3-under for the round, but then went double bogey-bogey before closing with a birdie to finish the round at 2-under 70 and the tournament at 1-under.
The cut for the low 55 scores and ties was 2-under 142. American Ken Looper shot 12-under in the second round to lead the tournament with a 17-under 127.
Rohanna had a difficult time with the par-4 seventh hole with a double bogey and bogey.
“Yes, that seventh hole beat me up the last two days,” Rohanna said via Facebook Messenger. “I played it great all week, too. I just hit a poor tee shot both days.”
The Waynesburg Central graduate opened on the back nine at Club Campestre de Medellin in Medellin, Colombia, with eight pars and one bogey. Rohanna then turned things around by opening the back with a birdie. After a par on No. 2, his 11th hole, he ran off four straight birdies.
“I was (feeling it), that’s why I hit driver on No. 7,” explaine Rohanna. “It was a hard pin and the closer to the green the better. I just striped four drives in a row and birdied five of the six holes. So, I had momentum and that usually encourages a good golf swing and shot and, unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
“The bogey on No. 8 was a shame, too. I hit such a good shot into the par-3 green, 165 (yards). I hit a PW (pitching wedge). I was all over the back pin. It landed a few feet short on a downslope, takes one big bounce and rolls off the back down a collection area. Pretty much dead where I was and just had to try to pull off a incredible shot. I just didn’t hit it close enough for the par.”
He added, “Double bogies are killers. And, really hard to come back from.”
Rohanna felt he played okay for the first tournament of the season.
“I hit 15 greens today and I putted fine again. I just didn’t get them to fall,” said Rohanna. “They had some bunkers on this golf course on the par-5s that were right in the middle of the fairway, and I’m not lying, I hit in three of the four! Right down the middle.
“The morning (round) the ball didn’t carry as far, but give me five more yards total and today would have been a different story. I hit it really good today, too, but golf is just hard and unforgiving, but fun at the same time.
“I’d say (I played) around a B. I don’t think I would have had issues at normal elevation, but that is where we were this week and I had to play with it. Other then my first tee shot on Day 1 and a few less-then-ideal drives throughout the two days, I did play pretty solid golf. I mean I shot under par. Today should have been better and so should yesterday’s, but it happens sometimes.”
As for missing the cut by just one shot, Rohanna added, “Yes, different year, same story? It seems when I don’t have my ‘A’ game, I’ve missed so many cuts by one shot over the last two years. I just didn’t hit quality tee shots, then tried to do the smart thing and lay up to a good spot. It just didn’t work out for me.
“Just one shot would have done it.”
Rohanna returns to the United States for a couple weeks before resuming action in the Lexus Panama Classic on March 17-20.