Rohanna golden in PIAA Golf Championships
There was a sense the two-day PIAA Golf Championships might be cut down to an 18-hole tournament before the state tournament even began because of weather forecasts. When the decision came down at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday that the second round would be cancelled, Waynesburg Central’s Rachel Rohanna capped her freshman season with another gold medal, although it was split with three other players.
Rohanna carded a 79 Monday in the first round to share the lead with Mt. St. Joseph’s Victoria Arena, Elk County Catholic’s Emily Riddle and Nazareth’s Kim Snyder. Snyder, the lone senior, was actually given the gold medal with the other three receiving theirs in the near future.
Laurel Highlands sophomore Maria Battaglia carded a 100 Monday to finish 31st in her second trip to the PIAA finals.
“The committee met and came up with the decision,” said Waynesburg Central coach John Garber. “There was talk Monday that Tuesday would be bad. We did know the weather Tuesday would not be conducive to playing golf.
“The committee announced at 9:30 a.m. that an announcement would be made in two hours. They wanted to try to play nine holes at noon with the boys playing the front (at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York) and the girls on the back. It was still raining. There were puddles in the fairways and on the greens.”
Rohanna endured a cold, windy but dry first day of competition. She acknowledged checking the weather report.
“I looked at the weather. I knew it would be bad,” said Rohanna. “I wanted a good 18 holes just in case. I played pretty well.”
She was mentally ready to go if the decision was made.
“They said we might only play nine holes. I knew I had to play my best. I was going to shorten my swing and hit it straight,” said Rohanna, who was bundled up in so many layers her swing would’ve been shortened. “It was wet when I was on the driving range. Sometimes it rained hard, then it would drizzle.”
The gold medal is the second for Rohanna after the Waynesburg Central freshman won the WPIAL girls individual title a couple weeks ago.
“I talked to the girls from the WPIAL and they were happy we didn’t have to go out,” said Rohanna.
“I think there was a little bit of both,” said Garber of the players’ mixed reactions of disappointment and relief. “They all wanted to play. You can’t control the weather.”
Where does Rohanna go from here after winning both the district and state titles?
“It’s a great feeling. I hopefully can do well next year. I’ll play my best and hopefully do well,” said Rohanna. “I set small goals and hope to reach them.”
Garber had nothing but praise for his state champion, hoping her success will have a positive effect on his young team as he builds the Raiders on his second tour of duty as coach.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s well deserved for her, even though she’s a freshman,” said Garber, adding, “It wasn’t anything I did. She enjoys the competition. She takes playing on the boys team as a challenge.
“I hope it will have a ripple effect (for the team). The team is all back next year.”
DIVOTS: Rohanna becomes the first golf gold medallist in the history of the program. Robert Rohanna, now at Penn State University, finished second as a junior. … The southwest corner of the state fared well as Burgettstown’s Christian Goetz, the defending WPIAL boys champion, tied Northern Tioga’s T.J. Howe for the state gold medal with scores of even-par 72. … The top 10 girls (and ties) received medals while the top 16 boys were honored. … The medal cut for the girls was at 85 while the boys tied at 78.