Rohanna ousted at US Am
Rachel Rohanna ran out of comebacks Thursday morning, ousted in the round of 32 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship by Marina Alex when she parred the 19th hole at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club. The Waynesburg Central graduate was 3-down after five holes, but battled back to go 1-up on No. 15. Alex tied the match on the next hole, and the two golfers matched scores to force a sudden-death playoff.
Alex parred No. 1, a 349-yard par-4, while Rohanna settled for bogey.
“I played (the 19th hole) exactly as I wanted with my driver. I hit it straight with a little draw, and it went into the bunker,” explained Rohanna. “I was about 70 yards from the green. It’s probably one of the hardest shots for me. I wasn’t sure what to hit, and put it in the greenside bunker.
“I punched it out and had about 30 feet for par. She had a 20-foot putt for birdie. I had to go for it, and knocked it by the hole. She two-putted (for the win).”
Rohanna trailed right from the start as Alex went par-birdie to go 2-up.
“The first hole was the only hole she won because I gave it to her,” said Rohanna. “I went risk-reward and went into the sand.”
Alex went 3-up when she parred No. 5, a 351-yard par-4, to Rohanna’s bogey. Rohanna was down on the scoreboard, but not out.
“I didn’t get down on myself. I told myself that I don’t care what I have to do, I’m not going to give up this match,” said Rohanna.
Rohanna’s confidence returned as she stormed back to tie the match with two birdies and a par on Nos. 7, 8 and 9 to go all square into No. 10.
“I made some good putts in the middle holes. On No. 7, I hit perfect into the green and had a two-foot putt for birdie,” said Rohanna. “Nos. 8 and 9 were difficult, and she played them well all week. She three-putted No. 8.
“That was such a confidence builder. Then I made an 8-foot birdie (putt) to bring it back to all square.”
Alex regained the lead with a birdie on No. 10, a 372-yard par-4, and retained the lead until No. 14 when Rohanna birdied No. 14, a 331-yard par-4.
Rohanna pushed ahead for the first and only time in the match when she parred No. 15, a 358-yard par-4, only to have Alex tie the match on the next hole.
“I decided to play (No. 16) a little different then I’m used to and hit it squarely through the fairway into the rough.”
Rohanna had a chance for another lead on No. 17, a 119-yard par-3, but her birdie putt just missed.
“She had a 16 foot for birdie and left it short. I had a 10-footer and had already made it. I did everything perfect, but it just failed to drop.”
Rohanna had one last shot to win in regulation, but knocked her 25-foot birdie putt two feet past the hole.
Erynne Lee was the only co-medalist to advance into the quarterfinals with Rohanna and Jaclyn Sweeney losing in the third round. Only three of the top 16 seeds advanced into the final eight, supporting Rohanna’s argument on just how tough the Women’s Amateur field is.
“The top 150 players in the world were here this week. No. 1 could win or No. 64 could win,” explained Rohanna. “I know how to play match play now. I have confidence going into the school year.”
Rohanna has one more tournament on the docket before she heads back to Ohio State University for her sophomore year. She, along with two other Rohannas, her brother Tommy and Pennsylvania Open champion Robert, plans to play against the men in the WPGA’s West Penn Open at St. Clair Country Club on Monday-Tuesday, Aug. 23-24.