Rohanna rallies in final round for first PIAA golf medal
Left: Emily Rohanna watches one of her putts roll during the 2011 PIAA Girls Individual Golf Championships at Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center in York. Above: Rachel Rohanna, shown in a file photo at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships. (Photo by Jerilee Bennet)
Left: Waynesburg Central senior Emily Rohanna stands on the medals podium after finishing in a tie for ninth place at the PIAA Individual Golf Championships at Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center in York on Oct. 25.
Right: Rohanna watches one of her putts roll during the championships.
Emily Rohanna understood she had to put Monday’s putting woes behind her, and take a new approach to Tuesday’s final round of the PIAA Individual Golf Championships held at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center in York.
The Waynesburg Central senior was able to do both, shooting a 6-over 78 to earn her first state medal with a two-round total of 22-over 166. She tied with three other girls for ninth place.
The top 10 finishers and ties earned a spot on the awards podium.
Rohanna’s first round was filled with putting problems leading to 44 putts, amounting to half her score of 88. She worked on her putting before the round and remained focused throughout her last round of high school golf.
“On the very first hole, I had a 50-footer and the thought went through my mind,” Rohanna said of her mindset. “I had a 5-footer to save par and sunk it. I knew I was going to be okay.”
She was even par through six holes, but took a bogey on No. 7, a par-5. She settled down with a par-par finish to go out in 1-over 37.
“I told myself to keep playing like you’re playing, and I might place,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna bogeyed No. 11, another par-5, and No. 12, a par-3. She followed with three consecutive pars, but ran into problems on No. 16.
“I hit my tee shot on No. 16 into the woods. The wind (gusting 10-15 mph) caught the ball and pushed it left,” explained Rohanna. “I had to take a drop and bogeyed the hole.”
She followed with another bogey, taking her into No. 18, her last hole as a high school golfer.
“I was playing with Emily Lawson, a senior from Fox Chapel,” said Rohanna. “She said this is going to be my last drive in high school.”
That statement got Rohanna thinking.
“I started to think this is my last drive, the last second shot, my last putt,” said Rohanna.
Her last putt came a bit later than she would have hoped on No. 18 with her lone 3-putt of the round.
“I was on in regulation. I blew it by the hole,” said Rohanna.
“I thought to myself you can’t do this now.”
Rohanna was in the third group off the tee, so she had no idea how the leaderboard was changing behind her.
“I had no idea. If I played my game, hopefully I can place,” said Rohanna. “I didn’t worry about how everyone else was playing.
“I was happy I finished well.”
As for the culmination of her high school career, Rohanna, who will attend Youngstown State next year, added, “It’s a bittersweet moment. I’m glad it ended this way.”
Waynesburg Central coach John Garber didn’t have to mark a group, so he was able to follow Rohanna during her round.
“She came out this morning and I told her to keep the ball below the hole,” said Garber. “She managed her game really well today. She kept the ball in play.”
Garber added a personal note after everything was settled for the day.
“I told Emily it’s been great to have her for the past four years,” said Garber. “I was really proud how she fought back. She could’ve gave in. She fought hard today.”
Rohanna’s plight on the greens in the opening round was unique, unfortunately, her worst in recent memory.
“The greens were huge, fast and undulating,” said Rohanna. “I never played on greens like that before. I started with four 3-putts in a row, and ended with a 4-putt.
“My first 3-putt was from not even seven feet away. The greens roll.”
She thought things were turning around on No. 14, her fifth hole.
“No. 14 was a long par-3, and I got a birdie. Then I went par, par,” said Rohanna. “Next was a short par-5 that I birdied in practice. I hit a nice second shot, but (the ball) caught some wind and I hit into the hazard.
“It was very frustrating. Every single part of my putting game was bad.”
Waynesburg Central coach John Garber was marking the group ahead of Rohanna, so he was able to see most of her round.
“From tee to green, she played pretty well,” said Garber. “There were tough pin placements. Pins were in tough spots.”
DIVOTS: Council Rock North’s Erica Herr won the girls’ title with a 6-over 150 (74-76). … West Allegheny’s Garrett Browning shot a 4-over 146 (71-75) for the boys crown. … Shady Side Academy won the boys team title with a 685. … Manheim Township won the girls team crown with a 622.