Rohanna opens with 5-over 76
A couple trees got in the way for Rachel Rohanna in Friday’s opening round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, leading to a 5-over 76 on Pinnacle Country Club.
“(Her score) didn’t look as bad on the course (as it did on the scorecard),” said Rohanna. “I caught three poor swings today and three shots clipped trees. Two shots hit and came 80 yards backwards.”
Though not necessarily reflected on her scorecard, Rohanna believes she is moving in the right direction.
“I cut out the pull hook. It seems to be working. I feel a lot better with my swing. It gives me more confidence,” said Rohanna, adding, “I want to post a good score tomorrow.”
Rohanna opened with a bogey, but recovered with two birdies to stand 1-under through the first eight holes.
“I missed a 5-footer for birdie on No. 9,” said Rohanna, who went out in 1-under 35.
The back nine started poorly with a bogey and didn’t improve over the next eight holes. Rohanna carded a double bogey on No. 12 and bogeys on Nos. 14, 16 and 18 for a 6-over 41.
The trees came into play — twice — on No. 12.
“I hit a tree (with her drive) and the ball came backwards and hit the cart path. I punched out and clipped a tree and ricocheted right, landing in the water. I hit up and missed a putt for bogey,” explained Rohanna.
Rohanna hit just 4-of-13 fairways. She landed on 12-of-18 greens in regulation and needed 34 putts to complete her round.
“I had two 3-putts,” said Rohanna, who added another 3-putt green with a putt from the fringe. “I’m putting good. I just couldn’t get anything to fall. “Today, this (5-over) was the highest I was going to score. I missed a lot of 10-, 15-footers, more than I usually do.
“It’s not like I’m grinding to shoot these scores.”
Rohanna worked on her game earlier this week with her cousin Robert at Mystic Rock and believes her shot-making is coming around.
“I’m hitting more left to right. My shot feels so much better,” explained Rohanna.聽
Japan’s Ayako Uehara leads after the first round with 9-under 62.
Rohanna tees off No. 10 today at 9:20 a.m.