New Castle News
July 18, 2008 09:50 am
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Pennsylvania turned out a pair of champions yesterday.
Gregor Orlando of Erie and Rachel Rohanna of Waynesburg claimed victories at the AJGA Junior at New Castle Country Club.
Orlando won the boys title with a 71-69-70—210, two strokes better than Andrew Kim of Lake Mary, Fla. Rohanna took the girls crown by one shot with a 73-73-74—220, one stroke ahead of Susana Benavides of Bradenton, Fla.
Jonathan Acosta and Nikko Giangiuli, both members on the Neshannock High boys golf team, also competed in the event. Both Acosta and Giangiuli are New Castle Country Club members.
Giangiuli, a junior, placed 58th with a 76-79-83—238. Acosta, a freshman, took 71st with a 85-80-85—250.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Junior was a 54-hole stroke play event. The tournament field consisted of 98 players, 75 boys and 23 girls from 20 states, including Canada and Thailand.
Shooting a 2-under-par 70 for the final round, Orlando carded a tournament total of 6-under.
“I credit my win to my approach shots,” Orlando said. “They got me close to the hole so I didn’t have any 20-foot putts. That made this round a lot easier.”
Traveling only 90 minutes from home, Orlando is proud to seal his win so close to home.
“It’s awesome to have won here,” Orlando said. “New Castle is the only tournament close to my home; usually, I have about a six-hour drive.”
In the girls division, coming into the final round tied for the lead, Rohanna was able to hold off her competitors. Rohanna pointed to her 4-over effort largely to her work on the greens.
“My putting was better today,” Rohanna said. “I didn’t hit the greens, but I was able to keep a low score with the putts. I only had 28 putts today.”
Winning her first AJGA tournament, Rohanna is thrilled to have had the opportunity to win at New Castle Country Club.
“I live only about an hour and a half away from here,” Rohanna said. “It feels awesome to finally have my first win, and to have it here is even better.”
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