Rohanna closes with 75 in opening tournament
Rachel Rohanna was 1-under through four holes in Sunday’s final round of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, but lost her momentum with a double bogey-6 on No. 5 to finish with a 3-over 75.
The Waynesburg Central graduate started the final round of the opening Symetra Tour tournament tied in 38th place, but slipped down into a tie for 51st place with a three-round total of 6-over 222. She opened with a 75 and shot even-par 72 in Saturday’s second round.
Rohanna had a par-bogey-birdie-birdie start to move to 2-over for the tournament, but lost the strokes on the fifth hole with a double bogey.
“I bladed a bunker shot that led to the double,” Rohanna said of the fifth hole.
She recovered with four straight pars to go out in 1-over 37.
Rohanna continued the steady play on the back nine of the Country Club of Winter Haven with four more pars, but bogeyed three of the next four holes to go to 7-over for the tournament. She closed with a birdie to play the back nine in 2-over 38.
“I played great today, actually, probably better than the other two,” said Rohanna. “I just had a few wedges that I spun too much off the green that led to bogeys. But, I made some good putts and hit my driver well.”
Rohanna hit 11-of-13 fairways and 11-of-18 greens in regulation. She needed 33 putts in both of the first two rounds, but used just 31 in the final round.
Rohanna had a quick turnaround, catching a plane after the tournament to Arizona to play in the Monday qualifier for the LPGA Tour’s opening event, Bank of Hope Founders Cup at the Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Tee time was 8 a.m. Monday morning.
Rohanna cleared one hurdle — through social media — when she found someone to be on her bag in the qualifier.
“I did get a caddy!” Rohanna said with excitement, adding with the same fervor, “And, I’ve played the course a lot and feel good, so just have to have luck on my side tomorrow! I have a few other things I need to do in Phoenix, too. I’m getting some clubs looked at, so might as well play while I’m there!”