Kaitlyn Rohrback has a lot in common with Morgan Pressel. She hopes, in time, to have even more in common with the LPGA star.
Rohrback, a freshman at Archbishop Spalding, has won the opportunity to play in the LPGA Pro-Am at Bulle Rock today and Tuesday. She had to defeat 16 other golfers at a skills challenge at Mountain Branch on May 20 to earn the opportunity to play with her favorite LPGA golfers during this week?s McDonalds LPGA Championship festivities.
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“It was exciting, because I had a playoff,” Rohrback said. “The playoff was putting, and that wasn?t exactly my strong suit at the time.”
But, as Rohrback admits, putting is important in her game. At 5-foot-3, she isn?t a big hitter.
“My short game has to be pretty good,” Rohrback said.
She compares her game to that of Pressel ? someone she looks up to.
“Her mom died about two months before mine, and I think it?s great that she progressed so well,” said Rohrback, whose mother, Kathy, succumbed to cancer in 2005.
Rohrback learned Sunday night (too late for this edition) who her playing partner would be. While she lists Pressel and Annika Sorenstam as her favorites, it didn?t matter to her who she?d play with at Bulle Rock.
“Its really exciting because I get to play with the pros, and one day I hope to go pro and play on the LPGA tour,” Rohrback said. “It will give me a chance to see how good I can be to compete on that level.”
Rohrback helped the Cavaliers to a program-best 8-2-1 record. She typically shoots in the mid-70s on her home course at Crofton Country Club – just a short pitch from her house. Bulle Rock – and the pros that will play with and against her – will provide a good challenge for Rohrback.
“I think its great,” said Rick Rounsaville, the general manager/director of golf at Bulle Rock. “From the standpoint of having a good junior golfer like that to have the opportunity to play with a touring professional – those opportunities don?t come every day.”
Rohrback got the opportunity to scout the course last June.
“I went to watch this tournament last year as a spectator, and I?ve heard from people that played it recently that the rough is very thick and the greens are very fast. It should be fun.”
But how fun would it be to play with Sorenstam?
“That would be the best round of golf in my life,” Rohrback said. “That would be awesome to learn from her.”
Chasing a title
» Purse: $2 million
» Field: 150 players
» Yardage: 7,375 yards
» Par: 72
