Waynesburg native Rachel Rohanna ready to take on U.S Women's Open in home state

This week, Waynesburg native Rachel Rohanna is competing in the U.S. Women’s Open in the state she grew up in.

Starting Thursday, Lancaster Country Club will host the U.S. Women’s Open. The event returns to Lancaster after the course previously hosted the event in 2015, with Gee Chun of South Korea taking the title.

“Just trying to focus on some good swings and being patient,” Rohanna said, describing her mindset going into the tournament.

Rohanna said playing on her uncle’s course (Rohanna’s Golf Course) in Waynesburg helped prepare her for professional golf because of the small greens she was chipping to.

As for Lancaster Country Club, Rohanna is optimistic about how the course will play for her and the other competitors.

She said her confidence is high after having a practice round Tuesday to feel out the course.

“Overall, I like the course and how it is set up,” Rohanna said. “Holes 9 and 18 are good finishing holes, and there are a ton of par and birdie holes that are out there.”

She also is aware of some potential pitfalls. “There are three to four holes that are tough and I’ll need to stay short on.”

Rohanna does not have a swing coach and said she likes to practice on her own and get a feel for the course without too many distractions.

She is hoping for success this weekend but says she wants to keep it simple while on the course.

“Just have to stay disciplined and smart on all of the holes out there,” she said.

She credits a lot of her golf skills to her grandparents, who were both golfers when she was little and helped to guide her into the game.

Rohanna turned pro in 2013 after graduating from Ohio State.

This will be her fourth U.S. Open appearance. She played at The Broadmoor East Course in 2011, Sebonack Golf Club in 2013 and the Country Club of Charleston in 2019 without making the cut.

This year, she has played seven times on the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s developmental tour, making three cuts. She’s a two-time winner on the tour, winning the Epson Tour Championship in 2017 and Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay in 2015.

Now 33, Rohanna is playing with not one but two daughters to share the experience with. Her first child, Gemelia Grace, was born in June 2018, and in September, she and her husband, Ethan Virgili, welcomed their second daughter, Greenlee Kay.

The Waynesburg golf phenom will be looking to see if she can break through and contend in Lancaster this weekend.