Rohanna doesn’t make the cut at U.S. Open qualifier
Eighteen holes of tournament golf do not offer much recovery opportunity for a wayward hole or two.
Robert Rohanna, by his own admission, hit the ball well, but a couple double bogeys led to a 2-over 73 Wednesday in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity, Fla.
Rohanna started on No. 10 and was one of the first groups to get off the tee. He realized after his score was posted it wasn’t going to advance him to regional play.
“That’s the issue with a one-day qualifier,” explained Rohanna, who finished with five birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys. “After the first double bogey, I was still 1-over par. It’s harder to get back from a mess up (in an 18-hole qualifier). You don’t want to put that pressure on yourself mentally like that.
“When you have 5-footers for par, you have to make them. “
Rohanna went out in the back nine in 37, and came home with a 36.
Again, the scorecard did not reflect the way Rohanna felt he played.
“I actually hit it really good. I drove it really well,” explained Rohanna. “I hit a lot of really good putts. I just couldn’t get the speed (of the greens) right.
“The greens were just inconsistent. It’s not an easy course, but I wouldn’t be surprised for someone to shoot 67.”
Rohanna had five birdies from an aggregate distance of eight feet.
“I had two 2-putt birdies. I stuck a wedge shot and made a 6-footer,” said Rohanna of his birdies. “I had a lot of makeable putts. I hit enough good shots to do well.”
The first major stumble Rohanna had was on his fourth hole.
“I hit a ball out of bounds. I had a left-to-right wind, but I cut it too much,” said Rohanna. “The ball hit a mound with no grass. I bounced so hard. The marker told me it hit off the cart path. I landed like an inch out of bounds. If I make par there, I’m 1-under.
“I made a bad par on the second par-5.”
The wind of the practice round was not the wind of the qualifier, a common occurrence in Florida.
“The wind was the complete opposite from the practice round the other day,” said Rohanna. “It’s a Robert Trent Jones course and it’s 7,200 yards, which is long for Florida. I didn’t mind it being long, but it was tough because of the wind.”
After a top-3 finish on his last PGA TOUR Latinoamerica event, Rohanna understands what has to be done.
“Except for Tiger, maybe, no one plays good every weekend. It’s just your bad rounds have to be better.”
Rohanna goes back to the grind next week when he flies to the Dominican Republic for the next PGA TOUR Latinoamerica event. The tour then moves to Panama before taking a four-month hiatus.
Rohanna won’t be taking the down time on the couch, however. Currently 11th on the money list, should he be able to move into the top 10 in the next two events he’d gain full exempt status to play in the Canadian Tour.
“The Canadian Tour has 12 events in four months,” said Rohanna. “I might try a couple Monday qualifiers on the Web.com Tour. “
Rohanna also expects to come back to Pennsylvania to play in the West Penn Open, Frank B. Fuhrer III Invitational and Pennsylvania Open over the summer.