First mom to graduate from the Symetra Tour overcomes four-stroke penalty for having daughter’s U.S. Kids club in the bag
The first time Rachel Rohanna graduated from the Symetra Tour in 2015, she squeaked in the final card by $284. It was a valuable every-shot-counts lesson.
Earlier this year during the final round of the Copper Rock Championship, Rohanna reached into her bag to pull out a club and discovered that daughter Gemelia’s 23-inch club had slipped to the bottom. She called over a rules official and received a four-stroke penalty for having a U.S. Kids 7-iron as her 15th club.
Rohanna, 30, couldn’t help but look at the money list to see how much the oversight had cost her. Could that $900 be what keep her from earning back her LPGA card?
“That was haunting me the entire time,” said Rohanna, who ultimately finished 10th on the Symetra Tour money list to once again earn the last card. This time, however, $4,429 separated her from No. 11 Beth Wu.
Rachel Rohanna celebrates graduating from the Symetra Tour with daughter Gemelia. (courtesy photo)
Rohanna, who won the 2017 Symetra Tour Championship when she was six weeks pregnant, is believed to be the first mom to earn LPGA status through the developmental tour. With no daycare available on the Symetra Tour, Rohanna spent about half the season on the road with 3-year-old Gemelia – with help from family – and half the time traveling on her own. She and husband Ethan Virgili own ERV Cattle Co. in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and lead jam-packed lives.
The family butcher shop opened back up last month and now that she’s home, Rohanna will help out there from time to time. There’s a big cattle sale coming up, and the couple hope to soon have 90 calves born on the ranch.
Farm life feels an awful lot like being a tour professional at times – long hours, varying paydays, nothing happens overnight and it often feels like a 24/7 job.
There are times when Gemelia goes to practice with her mom, and times she’s up at 4 a.m. with dad checking on the cattle. The couple has a tremendous support system of grandparents and great-grandparents.
“I guess (Ethan) and I never really went into marriage or parenthood with some type of assumed roles with things,” said Rohanna. “We just both knew we were teammates in this, and we were both willing to work extremely hard with our careers and do the best that we can to raise a human.”
While support from her community and sponsors has been terrific, Rohanna said, there have been enough negative comments along the way that have spurred her on.
“It’s really hard, isn’t it?
“You’re probably going to give up soon.”
“You’re not going to be able to do this.”
“Who’s watching your daughter?”
“It blows my mind that people actually have the nerve to say that your face,” said Rohanna.
Ethan has actually flown on his own with Gemelia more than Rachel – coming out to meet her on the road – and she marvels at the number of women who go out of their way to help him on the plane.
She often feels judged for continuing to pursue a career as a touring pro, while at the same time, some assume her husband can’t take care of the family while she’s gone.
“I get frustrated on his behalf,” she said.
Rachel Rohanna poses with husband Ethan and daughter Gemelia. (courtesy photo)
Two big keys to the consistency of the season, Rohanna said, involved changing from an interlocking to overlap grip at the start of the year, and working with Callaway’s Barry Lyda to change the lie of her clubs from standard to three degrees flat.
“Honestly, without his suggestion,” she said, “I know I wouldn’t have been scoring as well this season.”
During a two-week break in the schedule with three events left in the season, Rohanna and Gemelia tested positive for COVID-19. It worked out well that they could quarantine on the ranch while they recovered and practice in the front yard. The closest neighbor resides a half mile away.
Rohanna felt weaker as the season wound down and dealt with cramps. She ultimately tore a muscle near her rib cage and felt the most pain when she tried to sleep. Rohanna wasn’t sure how much of her troubles could be attributed to end-of-season wear and how much to COVID-19, but she knew there was no choice left but to grind.
“I told myself I’ve made it this far,” she said. “I’m not going to let anything get in my way at this point.”
