Rachel Rohanna set to compete at U.S. Women’s Open
Rachel Rohanna of Waynesburg takes a break while practicing at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s Mystic Rock golf course as she prepares for the upcoming U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. (Photo by Ed Cope)
Rachel Rohanna of Waynesburg practices her putting in this file photo taken at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
Ed Cope
Rachel Rohanna hits a practice shot in this file photo. Rohanna is home for a break before heading out on the Symetra Golf Tour. (Photo by Ed Cope)
Rachel Rohanna has done her fair share of driving this week, all in preparation for her second U.S. Women’s Open.
Most of the driving, however, has been on the open road, not on a range. The week started with a junket from Decatur, Ill., to Dayton, Ohio, back home to Waynesburg. After a short stay at home, the Waynesburg Central graduate was on her way to relatives in Rutherford, N.J., which then led to the shortest/longest trek of the week to date, Long Island, N.Y., through New York City.
“We went through New York at 8 a.m. It took 2½ hours to go 30 miles,” said Rohanna.
A return trip back to Waynesburg closed the sojourn, all by Tuesday night.
“I’ll have daily one-hour trips to Nemacolin, and then a 9-hour trip, I think, to New York on Sunday,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna can only hope she does less driving on the 6,819-yard layout at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., when play gets underway next Thursday.
The first leg of the journey was after Rohanna secured her best professional finish to date, tying for 29th in the Symetra Tour’s Decatur-Forsyth Classic on June 14-16. She won $834 after finishing at 2-under 214 (73-68-73), the most money she’s won with her first sub-par finish professionally.
“That was a big one, for sure,” Rohanna said of her play in Illinois. “It was a good week for me. I’m happy with that.
“I was just ‘purring’ it. It’s good to know that I’m still hitting the ball well.”
Rohanna enters the Open with a lot of confidence in her play tee-to-green.
“My ball striking, I’m hitting my drives well. I’m confident with every club in my hand,” explained Rohanna. “I’m just striping it. It’s just a great feeling. At this level everyone is a great ball striker. I’m just trying to get those putts to fall.”
Trying to get those putts to fall led to the New Jersey/Long Island portion of the journey. Rohanna had a productive putting session with Darrell Kestner, PGA professional at Deepdale Golf Club.
“Joe Nieporte, the pro at Nemacolin, got me hooked up with him. It was worth the drive to see him,” said Rohanna. “He made some changes, definitely for the better. I’m confident with the stroke.
“Basically the changes are to my set up to the ball and tempo. It sounds very simple. Breaking a 9-year habit isn’t easy.
“Right now, I’m feeling great.”
Kestner, a West Virginia native, personally made the trip worthwhile, as well.
“He was so nice. He teaches PGA players. He broke everything down,” added Rohanna.
The final leg of her weeklong journey will be to Long Island to play Sebonack, built in 2006. The course is links-style, designed by Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus. The card plays 6,819 yards (subject to change by the USGA) at par-72 (35-37).
Rohanna’s first Open was at the Broadmoor in the thin air of mile-high Colorado two years ago. This time around she’ll be playing at sea level.
“I don’t play links-style courses too often. The courses play to your creativity. I really enjoy that,” said Rohanna. “There will be a lot of bump and runs. I have a feeling the greens will be undulating. I really like undulating greens.”
And, of course, the famed rough favored by the USGA.
“Tee shots are the biggest thing. The fairways are tight and there is no primary cut. Roll off the fairway right into seven inches of rough,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna had a different approach as she prepared for her second Open.
“It’s knowing when to back off some shots and take a different club. There are a lot of bogeys out there. Not just for me, but for everyone. You just need to shake it off,” said Rohanna. “I can’t go for those miracle shots. Bump it out and take my medicine. I reminded my caddie (her uncle Richard Schwartz) of that.
“It tests your patience. When they say par, (the USGA) doesn’t expect you to go under.”
Rohanna also spoke of the difference of playing as a professional as opposed to as an amateur.
“When I was an amateur, in college, I had no expectations. Maybe that’s why I played so well the first day and maybe why I screwed up on the second day,” explained Rohanna, who will be getting married to Ethan Virgili the week after the close of the Open.
“I love playing in the U.S. Open. Who knows, this might be my last one.
“I feel like I belong here. I can do well and should do well. There is no added pressure whatsoever.”
In the U.S. Open last week at Merion, the USGA creatively grouped players for the first two rounds. Rohanna is looking forward to any grouping, with one caveat.
“Who I play with really doesn’t bother me too much. I played on the guys team in high school with so many distractions,” said Rohanna, adding, “Slow play bothers me. It’s very frustrating.”
Rohanna will have lots of support in the gallery, including her parents, sister Emily and brother Tommy.
“Emily (who plays at Youngstown State) has gained a lot of distance. She’s playing a lot this summer,” the proud big sister said.