Rohanna advances through first ‘Big Break’ challenge
In very businesslike precision, Robert Rohanna survived the first immunity challenge in Monday’s premier episode of “Big Break The Palm Beaches FL” as the 23rd season of the Golf Channel reality show.
The opening immunity challenge was a Big Break staple, pairing the golfers by a lottery drawing of numbered golf balls and challenging them to break a pane of glass faster than or within the bartered time limit. The loser of the challenge was then sent to the next immunity challenge.
Rohanna drew the No. 11 golf ball, meaning he would be in the sixth and final group. Chad Pfeifer, the veteran who served in Iraq and earned the Purple Heart for injuries that led his left leg to be amputated, drew No. 12.
Since he went off last, Rohanna had a bird’s eye view of the successful — and unsuccessful — approaches to breaking the glass from about 15-20 yards.
“I was watching throughout. How they hit their shots, what club they used,” explained Rohanna.
One observation he had of the previous 10 golfers led him to his strategy how to set up his shot.
“I put down just one ball (from the available stack of balls),” said Rohanna. “You know how it is when you go to the range and you have golf balls all over. I watched them and they couldn’t figure out which ball to hit. Then time started to run down and they panicked which ball to hit.”
When it came time for Rohanna and Pfeifer to face off, since Rohanna had the lower number he started the bidding for the time frame to complete the competition. The Waynesburg Central graduate opened with 20 seconds. Pfeifer countered with 16 seconds, which was then lowered by Rohanna to 15 seconds.
“I wanted to go second regardless. I was going to go as low as I had to. You want the challenge in your hands,” said Rohanna.
Pfeifer accepted the challenge and hit first. He missed his opening shot, but found the glass with six seconds remaining on the clock.
Since Rohanna set the challenge clock, all he had to do to gain immunity was break the glass within 15 seconds. He needed only six seconds and one shot to be safe for the first round.
“I hit a lot of punch shots with my 5-iron. I just imagined I had a little hole in the woods,” Rohanna said of his approach. “I picked the right club and pulled it off well.
“(Putting a ball through the glass) was a little issue for a few (golfers). It’s harder than it looks on camera. With the time, it’s doubly hard.”
Then, of course, Rohanna knocked Pfeifer, the sentimental favorite out of respect to his service and injuries endured during that service, to another round.
“I know. Everyone is behind him 100 percent,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna then spent the rest of the day comfortably watching half the golfers fight for immunity in the straight drive and the final elimination competition on No. 18, a par-5, on the PGA National Resort & Spa Champion course.
“It’s a good par-5. There’s a lot of risk-reward on that hole. It’s a tough layup,” said Rohanna.
Zach Portemont and Kyle Scott also had to deal with a September rain storm.
“We shot in September and the weather moves in so fast,” said Rohanna.
Portemont and Scott both finished with pars, therefore survived to keep the field full going into the second show on Monday, Feb. 9.
To the present, Rohanna is still dealing with his injured left thumb which was hurt early last December while playing in the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament on the same courses used on Big Break. He really hasn’t hit a golf ball since the conclusion of the tournament and the 2015 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica is looming on the horizon.
“I’m having an MRI this week. It’s pretty frustrating,” said Rohanna.