Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay
Sara Bay Country Club
Sarasota, Florida
Final-Round News & Notes
April 25, 2015
SARASOTA, Fla., April 26, 2015 - Rachel Rohanna (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania) made a critical chip-in on hole 15 and stuck her approach shot on the 18th to seal the win at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay. She posted a 2-over 74 on Sunday in tough conditions to earn her first professional win with a total score of 5-under 211. She edged five players that finished at 3-under 213 including Lee Lopez, who moves to No. 1 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
With the winner’s payout of $16,500, Rohanna moves from 16th to fourth on the latest Volvik Race for the Card money list with a five-event total of $23,233.
“I can’t even feel anything right now, it has been an amazing week,” said the 24-year-old Rohanna. “I’m so excited and so happy to have my first win down in Sarasota. I’m just happy with the way I played and I am ready to take on the next one.”
Rohanna, who had a two shot lead heading into the round, made two bogeys and a birdie on the front nine to turn at 6-under, tied with Giulia Molinaro, who birdied the ninth hole grab a share of the lead. Rohanna and Molinaro traded birdies and bogeys on the back nine.
The turning point came on the par-4 15th hole. Rohanna had a one shot lead and chipped in for par while Molinaro made a bogey. Molinaro also made bogey on the 17th hole to give Rohanna breathing room. After an slightly errant drive on the par-5, Rohanna pushed out and then stuck her approach shot to five feet to put an exclamation point on the victory.
“The chip was awesome and it gave me a lot of confidence going into the last three holes, but it got me a little too excited as I went onto bogey the next hole,” said Rohanna. “My third shot on 18 when I put it to 5-feet, I would say of all my shots the entire week to hit that one and avoid the 20 or 30 footer was great.”
Rohanna was fantastic around the greens all week. She only had one three-putt the entire event against the Donald Ross designed greens.
“When the last putt went in everything drained from my body,” explained Rohanna. “I looked at Cydney (Clanton) and she said ‘congrats’ and then it kind of started to sink in.”
Rohanna has improved each year on Tour. In her rookie 2013 season, she had no top 10 finishes and ended up 92nd on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. In 2014, she posted three top 10 results and was 48th on the money list. She already has two top 10 finishes in 2015.
“I think I’ll be able to take this experience into other tournaments,” said Rohanna. “I remember getting some of my first junior wins and amateur wins and those gave me so much confidence and now to finally say I have a professional win is just awesome.”
It was a special day for Rohanna and her family. Her younger sister, Emily, was part of the Horizon League Championship win today for the Youngstown State women’s golf team. Also, Rohanna’s alma mater, Ohio State, won the Big Ten Conference championship.
So, any special plans with the $16,500?
“I’ve got my eye on a new heifer so I might be getting a new cow soon,” said Rohanna with a laugh.
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