Rohanna looks to carry momentum into 2nd round
Even though Rachel Rohanna closed the first round of the Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give with a bogey, her play over the final nine holes Thursday has her hopeful for today’s second round.
The Waynesburg Central graduate shot 3-over 74 on Blythefield Country Club with four bogeys, one double bogey and three birdies.
“I made a lot of good putts. When I hit the fairway, I hit good shots with my irons,” said Rohanna. “I putted awesome. I was making them left and right.”
Rohanna opened on No. 10 and had three straight pars. She then went bogey-birdie-bogey to go to 1-over.
Rohanna closed her front nine with a double bogey and bogey to go out in 4-over 39.
“My second shot was to a ‘raised in the air’ green. I pulled a wedge into a bunker,” said Rohanna.
Her bunker shot did not settle on the green. Another chip shot and two putts led to the double bogey.
Rohanna started her back nine on a positive note with a birdie on No. 1. She scored another birdie four holes later to go to 2-over for her round, but finished with a bogey on her final hole to play her back nine in 1-under.
“Parring No. 8 (her 17th hole) was more frustrating than the bogey on my final hole. I pounded a 5-iron to the front of the green and then missed (a birdie putt) from three feet,” said Rohanna.聽
She hopes to carry the play of her final nine holes over to the second round when she starts on No. 1 at 7:48 a.m.
Rohanna understands what has to happen for her to make a run in the second round.
“I have to get the driver straightened out. I don’t know what’s going on. I told Emily (her younger sister who is her caddie this week) I should go to Dick’s and buy a driver and put it in my bag,” explained Rohanna. “I think I’m going to trust my driver a little more. I just need to get a couple good drives.
“My iron play was great. The way I was putting, I’d take it every single day.”
Rohanna added, “I played the front nine better. I feel good for tomorrow.”
The projected cut is even-par. Laura Davies, Lexi Thompson and three other women are tied for the first-round lead at 6-under 65.
“This course is definitely scorable,” said Rohanna.