May 30, 2024 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Rachel Rohanna opened her fourth U.S. Women’s Open Championship Thursday with a 6-over 76.

She was tied for 109th place with the second half of the 156-women field still on the course.

The Waynesburg graduate shot 2-over 37 on the front nine at Lancaster Country Club and 4-over 39 on the back. She carded six bogeys and no birdies in her opening round.

Rohanna hit 7-of-14 fairways and 11-of-18 greens in regulation, although she had several solid birdie opportunities.

“The course played hard. It was really windy. The wind was consistent all day.,” said Rohanna, who had the opening tee time at 6:45 a.m. off the first tee. “It was chilly, actually cold (when she opened her round).

“I don’t think I killed myself today. I felt like I played two or three over today. I had two or three swings that put me in a bad way.”

Rohanna added, “It’s out there. I’m so close.”

She opened her round with a bogey, and then followed with six straight pars. Rohanna had birdie opportunities on all six holes.

Rohanna hit into a greenside bunker on No. 8 and missed her par putt.

She made the turn with a bogey-bogey start.

Rohanna’s second shot into the No. 10 green was short and her tee shot on No. 11 found a fairway bunker.

She navigated the hole playing the toughest in the opening round with a par on No. 12, a 161-yard par-3. Nelly Korda took a 10 on the hole after hitting her tee shot long and finding the water in front of the green three times.

“There was a lot of wind above the hole on No. 12. I played (about 155 yards) and the ball went 144. I was six inches from rolling into the creek,” said Rohanna.

The difficulties that No. 12 presented backed up the field, but Rohanna was able to stay calm with a visit with her youngest daughter.

“Ethan had Greenlee there, so I was able to visit with them,” said Rohanna, adding, “She’s been handling her first U.S. Open pretty good.”

Rohanna had back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15.

Her tee shot found a fairway bunker and her second shot kicked left into a greenside bunker. Rohanna played a solid shot out of the bunker, but her par-saving putt slid past the hole.

Rohanna found another fairway bunker with her tee shot on No. 15. She caught the rough on her second shot and eventually drained a 10-foot putt for bogey.

“I knew I was going to land in the bunker. To be honest, playing out of the bunker was better than to be in the rough,” said Rohanna. “No. 14 is a bogey hole. The green is exceptionally tough.”

She closed her opening round with three straight pars.

Rohanna believes she doesn’t need to deviate much from the way she played as she prepares for the second round today with an afternoon tee time off No. 10.

“If I don’t do anything crazy to get in trouble, I will be OK. I’m hitting my wedges well,” said Rohanna. “I had some putts I could’ve done better. I need to work on a couple things on my putts. I need to keep my head still.”

“I need to play even-par golf. I don’t need to press,” continued Rohanna.