Rohanna darts up leaderboard in second round
Rachel Rohanna finished strong in the second round of the Island Resort Championship Saturday, carding a 5-under 67 to catapult up the leaderboard.
The second round on the Sweetgrass Golf Club was delayed due early in the afternoon and play was once again halted around dinner time because of rainy conditions.
“It was about two hours,” Rohanna said of the delay, adding, “I’m looking outside right now and can’t believe they’re still out there, so I don’t know if they’ll finish or not.”
The Waynesburg Central graduate was in the last group to tee off in Thursday’s first round. The wind kicked up in the afternoon and Rohanna was pleased to record a 1-over 73 in the conditions.
Rohanna sits at 4-under 140 and was tied for fifth place at the completion of her round with about half the field still on the course due to another weather delay.
She had three birdies and two bogeys on the front to go out in 1-under 35.
Rohanna made the turn with consecutive birdies after a bogey on No. 9. She followed with a bogey on No. 12, but went out birdie-birdie-birdie in the rain to play the back nine in 4-under 32.
“I had lots of putts fall today!” exclaimed Rohanna about the difference between the first and second rounds. “There was not as much wind in the first 14 holes, and so I was hitting the ball closer.聽
“But, then we had a delay and it started raining for our last four holes. It was raining really hard when we finished.”
Rohanna added she almost closed the second round with four straight birdies.
“Yes, and No. 15 is 165-yard island green, so par felt like birdie. Actually, I stuck it to seven feet and I just missed the putt.”
Rohanna also credited her better play on the greens to a change she made in her bag.
“I switched putters today, too, that helped,” said Rohanna.
She believes the momentum of her strong finish can carry over into today’s final round.
“Yes, for sure. They’re calling for even more rain tomorrow so it might take all day, but I’m feeling good,” said Rohanna.