Oct 25, 2005 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Waynesburg Central’s Rachel Rohanna wanted to break 80 in both rounds of the PIAA Girls Individual Golf Championship at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. The reigning WPIAL champion met half her goal by shooting a 7-over par 79 Monday during the first round, heading into today’s final round tied for first with three other golfers.

Mount St. Joseph’s Victoria Arena, Elk County Catholic’s Emily Riddle and Nazareth’s Kim Snyder also shot 79 for a share of the lead.

Laurel Highlands’ Maria Battaglia had a rough first round with a 100. The sophomore, in her second state tournament, went out in 46 and back in 54.

The weather was dry, but not very hospitable. The skies were gray and the wind made the cold temperatures seem colder. The forecast for the York area is temperatures in the 50s with showers throughout the day.

Rohanna didn’t have a birdie on the day. The freshman went out in 2-over 38 with two bogeys, and ran into some trouble on the back with a double bogey and three bogeys for a 41. With so much tournament golf under her belt, Rohanna wasn’t uneasy in her first state championship.

“I wasn’t really nervous,” said Rohanna. “It’s just like another tournament.

“(The weather) didn’t affect me that much. After the first couple holes, I didn’t notice it that much.”

Both Rohanna and her coach, John Garber, were happy to see a score under 80.

“A 79 was a good score for the conditions,” said Garber. “The greens were fast all day and the pin placements were tough. If she could break 80 again (today), that would be another excellent round.”

“I was glad to break 80 because of the weather,” said Rohanna. “I thought 74, 75 (150 for two rounds) would win.”

Garber didn’t see her play because he was marking another group, but he sensed Rohanna was ready to play.

“She seemed ready to go. She’s played enough tournament golf. She knows how to get herself ready,” explained Garber.

“I’ll go into the same pre-game routine. It’s just me and the golf course. I’ll play the best I can,” said Rohanna, who’ll tee off No. 1 at 9:50 a.m.

Rohanna is one of seven freshman (of the 36 golfers) in the championship, but that doesn’t surprise her.

“I knew there were a lot of good freshmen coming up. That doesn’t really surprise me. I know most of them,” said Rohanna. “Everybody’s pretty good.”

Rohanna doesn’t mind playing in front of the pack, adding, “I wanted to be in the top five. Being tied for the lead gives me motivation to do better.”

DIVOTS: The top 10 finishers receive a medal. … Neshaminy’s Brittany Benvenuto is two shots behind the leaders at 81 with Mars’ Melissa Glew shooting an 82, along with Upper St. Clair’s Megan Trachok.