Rohanna wins qualifier for spot in LPGA LOTTE Championship
Rachel Rohanna survived the Hawaiian trade winds Sunday to shoot a 2-over 74 at the Ko Olina Golf Club in the “Monday qualifier” to tie for first place and earn a spot in the 144-golfer field of the LPGA LOTTE Championship.
Rohanna went out in 2-over 38 with two bogeys, and came back with an even-par 36 with a bogey and a birdie through winds she’s not used to playing in.
“The wind was just unreal,” explained Rohanna. “It’s the windiest I’ve every played. It was coming in from the northeast. The course was into the wind on the early holes of the front and back nine, and down wind on the other holes.
“The only other time the wind was that strong was when I played at Bandon Dunes (along the Oregon coast). The wind comes right off the Pacific (Ocean).”
The wind nearly played havoc with her chances to play into one of the two qualifying berths, but Rohanna maintained at the right times.
“I missed six or seven greens, but I got up and down most of the time,” said Rohanna.
“There is nothing blind on the course. It’s not super long (6,383 yards). The trickiest are the greens. The greens are really grainy.”
The LPGA event in Oahu, Hawaii, is a 72-hole championship running from Wednesday through Saturday with a total purse of $1.7 million. Rohanna has had family members on her bag throughout her amateur and professional career, but never has her mom, Debbie Rohanna, done so before.
“She carried my bag in a Monday qualifier in Arizona last year. She’s stronger than she looks,” said Rohanna of her mother, adding, “We did Zumba this morning.”
The younger Rohanna might set a new trend on the LPGA is she makes the cut. Caddies generally get paid a stipend plus a part of the winnings. At least, when it’s not a mother on the bag.
“She’s paying for everything this week,” said the playing Rohanna with a chuckle. “If I make the cut, we got it figured out.”
The Golf Channel is broadcasting all four rounds nightly from 6:30-10:30 p.m.