Apr 22, 2017 By Jim Downey, For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read

Rachel Rohanna’s chances to advance to the final round of the Sara Bay Classic seemed remote after she shot 5-over 77 in Saturday’s second round.

A funny thing happened as the afternoon wore on, though, as the gap between the projected cut and Rohanna and the other golfers sitting at 9-over 153 shrank, until the cut leveled finally leveled off at 9-over. Fourteen golfers made the cut at 9-over with 68 golfers making the cut.

Benyapa Niphatsophon sits atop the leaderboard at 5-under 139 after finishing with a 5-under 67 in the second round.

Rohanna tees off at 8 a.m. today for the final round.

“Usually, I don’t want a lot of people in, but at this point, I don’t care. I just want in,” Rohanna said with a laugh.

The Waynesburg Central graduate started on No. 10 and was unable to get anything going with three bogeys and a double bogey-7 to go out in 6-over 42. She made the turn at 10-over for the tournament.

Things didn’t get any better after the turn with Rohanna going bogey-bogey to slip to 12-over for the tournament.

Rohanna started to turn things around on her 13th hole with a birdie. She added two more birdies to play her back nine in 1-under 35.

“I’m happy with how I finished. I missed two other very good birdie opportunities on my 16th and 17th holes, as well, but at least I got three coming in, and hopefully it’s just enough,” Rohanna said after the conclusion of her second round.

Rohanna matched her total of the first round of 33 putts.

“I missed too many missed short putts. I really don’t even want to count, but probably around three or four 2-footers I missed just today,” said Rohanna.

Rohanna hit 9-of-14 fairways and 10-of-18 greens in regulation.

“I hit my tee shots great, and still struggled a little figuring out distance, but for the most part it was pretty good,” said Rohanna.

Rohanna and Gulia Molinaro share the course record, 6-under 66. Rohanna’s Symetra Tour title came at Sara Bay back in 2015.

“Actually, Gulia Molinaro and I shot it the same day, I think. I remember them telling me I would’ve had the record if Gulia hadn’t shot the same thing that morning. I guess she had it for a few hours,” said Rohanna.

With that past in mind, Rohanna feels a sub-par round is possible.

“It’s out there. The course is ridiculously hard, but you can still make birds,” said Rohanna.