Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge
Willow Run Golf Course
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
September 5, 2015
Third-Round News & Notes

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., September 5, 2015 - Rachel Rohanna (Waynesburg, Pa.) made two eagles and posted a 7-under 64 to move from a tie for 13th into a share of the lead on Saturday at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge at Willow Run Golf Club. Rohanna moved to 10-under 203 and shares the 54-hole lead with second round leaders Caroline Westrup (Baerum, Norway) and Cydney Clanton (Concord, N.C.), who both carded an even par 71.

Rohanna, Westrup and Clanton will tee off in the final group on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The final round will begin at 8:00 a.m. and a split tee start will be used. The trophy ceremony will take place on the 18th green at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Rohanna ranks 11th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and a win or a second place result would assure her an LPGA Tour card for 2016.

“The LPGA card is on everyone’s mind every second of every day,” said Rohanna after her stellar round. “Getting to the LPGA has been my goal all my life, but I think I’ve learned enough to stay patient. I’ll do my best on Sunday and go for the win, but even if it don’t win, it doesn’t mean I’m not getting my card.”

During a six hole stretch from the fifth hole through the tenth hole, Rohanna went from 3-under to 10-under with eagles on the seventh and tenth holes and birdies on the fifth, eighth and ninth holes.

“I’m happy with the 7-under, it really moved me into contention and I’m just looking forward to another good score on Sunday,” said Rohanna. “I’ve been playing well the last few days and few weeks so I knew if I swung with confidence that a low score was coming.”

Rohanna said that playing alongside Dani Holmqvist, who carded a 6-under 65 to move into a tie for fourth at 9-under 204, helped a great deal.

“It helped playing with Dani who was lighting it up herself, I think if we played a best ball we’d be in the 50’s easily,” said Rohanna. “It was just a good day all around.”

Rohanna won the 2015 Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay earlier this season. She had to grind on the back nine to earn the win and will apply some lessons learned.

“I really learned that you can’t play against the girls in your group,” said the former Ohio State golfer. “I have to keep a level head and just play the course.”

Westrup, 29, admitted nerves on the first tee and struggled early with bogeys on three of her first four holes. She was happy with how she recovered to post a 71.

“I’m happy that I’m still in the lead with two other people and I didn’t give up today and I got myself back to 10-under,” said Westrup. “I’ll be nervous tomorrow, I didn’t sleep very well last night but I’ll just take it one shot at a time.”

Clanton, 26, made four birdies and four bogeys on the day.

“I just hope the putts fall tomorrow like they were the last few days,” said Clanton. “I still put myself in a good situation for Sunday.”

HOLMQVIST RESTED AFTER 4 WEEKS IN SWEDEN: Dani Homqvist (Stockholm, Sweden) took the Boston event off and spent four weeks at home in Sweden before the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge. She feels rested and it showed on Saturday as she turned in a 6-under 65 to move to 9-under 204.

“It was really important for me to play well today,” said Holmqvist. “This is a big tournament, but to play well at any event means my game is headed in the right direction.”

Holmqvist also talked about how playing with Rohanna helped motivate her.

“We had a good group going and we all played pretty fast, which I personally like,” said Holmqvist, who won the Island Resort Championship earlier this year. “Rachel played really well and I think we pushed each other, which was nice.”

Holmqvist joked that she only took two days off at the start of her trip home to Sweden, which is actually a lot for her.

“I hung out with my team a lot and did some really, really tough workouts and did a lot of short game work and had some competitive rounds,” said Holmqvist. “I also had time with friends and went out on the Archipelago and did some baiting.”

Holmqvist ranks 17th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and will move into the top 10 with a strong finish on Sunday.

“It’s everyone’s dream and priority to finish in the top 10 on the money list,” said Holmqvist. “I don’t think I was ready for the LPGA last year and I just had conditional status which makes it a lot harder.”

Three Share Third Round Lead of the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge

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