Rachel Rohanna qualifies for U.S. Women’s Open

Rachel Rohanna is used to waiting around to see if she secured a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open.
In recent years, Rohanna was on the list as an alternate, needing other golfers to drop out for her opportunity to play in the national golf championship.
Rohanna once again had to wait around, but Monday it was as the leader in the clubhouse after completing her second 18 holes in the U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifier at Chartiers Country Club.
And, when the final threesome, including Uniontown senior Danae Rugola, signed their cards, Rohanna’s wait paid off with the lone berth into the U.S. Women’s Open.
The U.S. Women’s Open will be played at Country Club of Charleston, Charleston, S.C., on May 30-June 2.
Rohanna finished at 1-over 141 to earn a return trip to the U.S. Open. Rohanna last played in the Open in 2013 at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. She also qualified for the 2011 U.S. Open at The Broadmoor East Course in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“It’s so funny. This year I hit the point ‘it is what is if I get into it or not,'” said Rohanna. “I’m not concerned about. I’ve been here before. There’s no use stressing about it. If I didn’t make it, there’s a Symetra event in Pennsylvania that week.
“I’m getting older. I don’t have to feel good about every tournament. My priorities, my emotions are different since having (her daughter).”
Rohanna completed the first 18 holes of the 36-hole qualifier with a 3-over 73. The Waynesburg Central grad carded three bogeys and a birdie on the front to go out in 2-over 37, and had two bogeys and a birdie on the back for a 1-over 36.
“I wasn’t really hitting that close. I took two drivers in my bag. I wasn’t hitting the one I got two months ago,” explained Rohanna. “I missed a lot of fairways and got in the rough. You had to punch it out and hope you make a putt. It was so wet there was no bounce out of the rough.
“I was 3-over after the first 18 and I had somewhat of an idea (of where she stood.)”
Rohanna said she “had a caddy and drive change” in the afternoon round, and the adjustment paid immediate dividends with birdies on the second and third holes.
“I pulled out the other driver. Ball striking on this course was extremely helpful. I hit a lot of fairways and had wedges in closer. I was making shorter putts,” said Rohanna.
However, Rohanna gave the two strokes back with bogeys to go out in even-par 35.
As she had on the front, Rohanna started the back with a run of birdies. Three consecutive birdies after the turn pulled her to even for the round.
“(Her sister) Emily caddied the first 18. (Her husband) Ethan came and did the second 18. My mom told Ethan (her standing on the leaderboard) and he asked if I wanted to know. That’s when I birdied 10-11-12,” said Rohanna. “I knew I had a chance. I thought four or five girls could turn it up on the back nine or back 18.”
Her fortunes on the greens turned with her accuracy on the fairways.
“I’ve never said this before, but I got lucky on the greens. I hit aeration marks, the ball bounced left, then right and go straight,” said Rohanna. “I made a couple long putts. I made putts, 6-footers, for par and bogey.
“The greens were in bad shape. It’s not their fault. It’s just this time of year. The greens were a little rough from the winter, but the superintendent did a great job from what they were a week ago. They did do as good a job as they could.”
Rohanna bogeyed her 34th hole to finish with a 2-under 68, the only score under 70 in the entire field over the two rounds of play.
Rohanna was disqualified earlier in the year on a Symetra Tour event, but did not allow the rare happening affect her play.
Some girls, guys get DQ’ed and just lose it,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna will play in the Symetra Tour’s IOA Challenge in Milton, Ga., running through Thursday to Saturday. She’ll fly home for Mother’s Day and then head back south to prepare for the U.S. Open.
Rugola tied for 16th in her first Open qualifier with a two-round score of 13-over 153.
She had a rough start in the morning round with three bogeys and a double bogey in her first four holes. Rugola bogeyed her sixth hole, but got the shot back with her only birdie of the opening round on No. 8.
“The first drive gives me butterflies,” Rugola said of her opening tee shot. “I was not a good first drive. (The butterflies) stuck with me a little long. It got to my head.
“I was hitting the ball much better around the seventh hole. I needed to get my game together. I got a birdie on No. 8. That took my scored down a little bit.”
She had three bogeys on the back nine to finish the morning round with 8-over 78.
“When I hit the ball bad, I usually putt bad,” said Rugola. “The greens were lightning for me, especially on short putts. I had to finesse each short putt. I missed at least two 2-footers.
“I missed a lot of short putts. I gave a lot of strokes away.”
Rugola had three bogeys on the first five holes in the afternoon round, and shaved one of the lost strokes with a birdie on No. 9 to go out in 2-over 37. She carded two bogeys and seven pars on the back nine to finish with a 5-over 75.
“You have to keep the course in front of you. I started off better in the second round. I definitely hit the ball better all over in the second round,” said Rugola, who will attend Youngstown State this fall. “This was my first senior tournament. I have never played in anything like that. It gave me a few more nerves.”
Olivia Zambruno, a sophomore at Penn State University from Bullskin Twp., finished 26th with a score of 19-over 159. The Greensburg Central Catholic graduate shot 77 in the first round and 82 in the second 18 holes.