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Warmer weather means lower score for Rohanna

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read

After three over-par rounds last week in the Suncoast Ladies Series at LPGA International Hills course, Rachel Rohanna had a much better round Monday on the Jones course, opening with a 2-under 70.

“The conditions were much, much better. I was not quite as windy and it was a lot warmer out,” said Rohanna, adding, “I was in short sleeves and a skirt.”

Rohanna is tied for third with Ariya Jutanugarn, two strokes behind the first-round leader Kelli Bowers. Kelly Shon is alone in second place at 3-under.

Only seven of the 70 golfers finished under par.

With birdies few and far between last week, Rohanna finished with five to go with three bogeys.

The Waynesburg Central graduate came out of the gate swinging with a birdie-3 on No. 1. Rohanna closed with two bogeys and a birdie over the final four holes to go out in even-par 36.

Rohanna had her game going after she made the turn with three birdies on the first four holes of the back nine. She bogeyed No. 15 to come back in 2-under 34.

“I hit the ball well, but missed a couple of greens, though. I was pretty consistent off the tee box and I felt confident with my irons,” said Rohanna. “I didn’t make any big mistakes.”

Rohanna felt she putted well last week on the sister course, the Hills, at the LPGA International and continued to do so in the first round.

“I made a couple of good putts, but I missed a couple of short ones,” said Rohanna, who was particularly proud of one birdie putt. “I made a really long putt, like 100 feet. It’s probably the longest putt I’ve ever made. It was downhill, left to right. It was a perfect putt. The last rotation went into the cup.

“That was a lot of fun.”

The weather in Daytona Beach is supposed to take a turn for the worse today and tomorrow.

“It’s supposed to rain Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s likely one day will get rained out,” explained Rohanna. “I need to stay prepared. If we have to play in a downpour, I will.

“I got used to playing in cold weather (last week) and the rain (this week). Glad to get it out of the way.”

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