Rohanna moves up leaderboard
Robert Rohanna managed the wind and survived a few 3-putts in Saturday’s third round of the Lexus Panama Classic to shoot a 2-under 70.
The Waynesburg Central graduate moved into the top 20 heading into today’s round with a three-day total of 3-under 213. He is in a 7-way tie for 17th place.
American Derek Rende holds the third-round lead at 9-under 207.
“Yeah, I played pretty well today. I hit 16 greens again,” Rohanna said via Facebook Messenger.
The winds were calmer in Friday’s second round, but picked up again in the third round.
“The wind was blowing hard all day. I just had some 3-putts on a few holes. The short putts are so hard because the greens aren’t that true, probably a 9 on the stimp meter. The wind really effects every putt. It’s crazy and the greens aren’t even fast, if you don’t firm it dead center it doesn’t go in,” explained Rohanna.
Rohanna opened with three straight pars, then birdied No. 4 to go to 2-under for the round. He gave the stroke back three holes later and then went to even par for the round with a bogey-6 on No. 9.
“I played really good golf today. I was 1-over on the front 9 and didn’t hit a bad shot. I just couldn’t get any of my putts to go in,” said Rohanna. “I hit two really good shots on No. 9 today. The ball landed right in the center of the green and it rolls over through the bunker onto the back side of it. I barely had a stance and hit two great shots. I didn’t hit a good third shot out of my lie and plugged into the front lip of the same bunker.”
Rohanna made the turn with a bogey to slip to 1-over for the round.
“I just couldn’t get it going today until No. 12. I hit quality shots all day, and 3-putted Nos. 7 and 10, Those didn’t help,” said Rohanna.
He got back to even with a birdie on No. 12 and then made the most of a remarkable drive for an eagle-2 on No. 13.
“How about this with the wind!” Rohanna said with emphasis. “Nos. 11-12-13 played downwind and my drives went 350, 370, 400 (yards)! I chipped in on No. 13 for eagle, but drove it to the front edge. I had 14 paces to pin and it’s a 414-yard hole.”
Rohanna gave a stroke back with a bogey on No. 15, but recovered with a birdie on the next hole.
“But, we came back into the wind on Nos. 15 and 16. On No. 15, I hit a drive 250,” Rohanna added with a chuckle.
As he had on the front, Rohanna closed with a birdie to play the back in 3-under 33.
Rohanna has played two rounds under par so far, and hopes Sunday’s final round will increase the total to three.
“I’m just going to try to keep doing what I’ve been doing, driving it well and giving myself opportunities. That’s all you can do in golf!” said Rohanna.