Ohio State University graduate Rachel Rohanna (Marianna, Pennsylvania) was a two-time All-Big Ten First Team performer for the Buckeyes. Rohanna has been competing now as a professional since 2013, but Ohio still feels like a second home.
“I really enjoyed my time there. I grew up three hours straight east off I-70 into Pennsylvania so it was a pretty easy commute and I’d get to go home every once in a while, on the weekends,” Rohanna said. “In general, being back here in Buckeye country is cool. I love the fans; I love the state of Ohio and everyone here is so welcoming.”
The two-time Epson Tour champion is one of the few #Road2LPGAMoms on Tour and missed the inaugural Prasco Charity Championship to welcome her daughter Gemelia into the world. Rohanna claimed a T24 finish in 2019 but competed at TPC River’s Bend prior to turning professional.
“I got to play the Junior PGA Championship here many years ago, probably about 12-13 years ago now. One of my most memorable rounds of my life was here. I went 48-36, so I am hoping now to do that this week,” said Rohanna. “It was probably the biggest swing ever of my life for 18 holes. I played well here in 2019 and missed the tournament in 2018 when I had my baby. It might have been the same week as this event, but I am really excited to be back.”
SMITH IN THE FIELD AFTER WINNING THE BIG 10 CONFERENCE
University of Nebraska Husker Katherine Smith (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota) joins the field this week at TPC River’s Bend for the third annual Prasco Charity Championship. This will be the second competitive tournament for Smith this year as she competed earlier this year at the B1G Conference Championship. Not only was she part of the championship team, she won the individual title as well, which earned her an exemption into this week.
“I’m super excited to make my debut here. It’s familiar territory as it’s where we play the B1G Championship,” said Smith. “It was a great week here competing with my team. We played really well as a team and I shot a 64 the last day to win so really fun memories. I am super grateful that there was the program for the exemption to come from our conference. I am feeling really lucky and trying to get those good memories to visit me on the course again.”
Smith has a few things in common with her competitors in Maineville, Ohio. Jaclyn Lee, who was the first B1G Conference champion to receive a sponsor invite from Prasco, is in the field, as well as Sophie Hausmann, who shares the same collegiate coach in Lisa Johnson.
“Sophie has been great and there are a lot of girls I have played with or looked up to here. I am in really great company this week and it’s nice to have some familiar faces,” said Smith. “Lisa is great. I think she has really empowered me to play my own game and work on my individual strengths and weaknesses that might be completely different from others. She has been great at giving me the confidence to know I can play at this level.”
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