Rugola shoots 5-over 77 in first round
Danae Rugola celebrated her 18th birthday Thursday by posting a 5-over 77 in the opening round of the Teen World Golf Championships at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
The Uniontown senior was in a three-way tie for 10th place, six strokes behind co-leaders Nicole Adam (Pinehurst, N.C.) and Janejilla Marston (Thailand).
It is a no-cut tournament, but the top two players from both the American and International field will play Sunday in the Teen Van Horn Cup, a one-day best ball tournament contested on Pinehurst No. 2.
“(Finishing 5-over) isn’t bad for the way I’ve been playing. I’ve been struggling,” said Rugola. “I struck the ball better today.”
Rugola had bogeys on Nos. 2 and 5 with a birdie on No. 7 to go out in 2-over 37.
She made the turn with consecutive bogeys to go to 4-over for the round. Rugola slowed the bleeding with a birdie-3 on No. 13, but closed with two bogeys and four pars to come back in 3-over 40.
Rugola said she had difficulties with her approach shots onto the green.
“The greens were sandy and super fast. I hit woods into the greens and the greens wouldn’t hold at all,” said Rugola. “I was hitting good shots. They weren’t bad shots. They were not ending the way I wanted them to.”
Rugola said she needs to make an adjustment to account for the green speed, but, otherwise, was pleased with the way she hit the ball.
“I need to play shorter (on the green) than today and not go for the pin. I anticipated the ball to stop and it would keep rolling and rolling,” said Rugola. “I putted well, actually. I had a coupled one-putt birdies.
“I’m already better than last year.”
Rugola opened the 2017 championship with an 81. She shot 79 in the second round and 80 in the final round for a three-day total of 24-over 240.