Steady Rohanna wins Pa. Open by 3 strokes

There wasn't another score of 63 hanging out in Robert Rohanna's golf bag, but there didn't have to be.

While he didn't match the brilliance of Tuesday's low second round at the Pennsylvania Open, Rohanna was rock-solid Wednesday. He made fewer mistakes than his two closest pursuers, who accompanied him in the final group amid the muggy heat at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern.

Rohanna, 24, a former Penn State player from Waynesburg who now is on the mini-tour circuit, finished with an even-par 71, good for a 3-stroke victory in the state's 94th Open. It was his first win since turning professional last winter.

Rohanna earned the championship trophy and a $10,000 first-prize check after completing 54 holes at 12-under 201.

"It feels good. I'm pretty happy about it," Rohanna said. "I didn't have to make too many birdies. I just played easy golf, kept the course in front of me, tried to go for the middle of the greens."

After posting nine birdies and an eagle in his 63, Rohanna had just three birdies Wednesday against three bogeys.

Blaine Peffley, of Lebanon, the only player to seriously threaten Rohanna all day, shot a 72 and took second at 204. Zak Drescher, of Landisville, a senior at Campbell (N.C.), also had a 72 for 205, and won low amateur honors.

Rohanna had two important holes - 8 and 13 - that helped keep his lead at a somewhat comfortable level. He 2-putted the par-5 eighth for a birdie while Peffley bogeyed, and another bogey by Peffley at No. 9 enabled him to take a 5-stroke lead at the turn.

Peffley, 25, who has conditional status on the Nationwide Tour and plays the NGA-Hooters Tour, made a charge on the next two holes, converting two 10-foot putts for eagle at the 10th - which Rohanna bogeyed - and birdie at the 11th to cut the deficit to two.

But Peffley drove into high fescue at No. 12 and took a bogey. Then at 13, Rohanna stuck his approach to within four feet of the hole and sank the putt for birdie, stretching his lead back to four.

"You've got to give Blaine credit; he went eagle-birdie to start the back while I went bogey-par," Rohanna said. "But I got it going after that. The 13th was pretty big. I had a great yardage, 140 yards, and I hit a good 9-iron, nice and smooth."

Two finishers at 207 - mini-tour pro Billy Stewart of Devon, who had a 69, and amateur Andrew Mason of Huntingdon Valley, with a 71 - shot the best scores of the Philadelphia-area contingent.

The results

Robert Rohanna, Waynesburg. . . 67-63-71–201

Blaine Peffley, Lebanon. . . 67-65-72–204

a-Zak Drescher, Landisville. . . 69-64-72–205

a-Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Vall.. . . 68-68-71–207

Billy Stewart, Devon. . . 68-70-69–207

Daniel Konieczny, Mt. Pleasant. . . 70-70-67–207

Kevin Busteed, Peckville. . . 67-71-70–208

Eric Kennedy, Haverford. . . 69-67-73–209

John Pillar, Hawley. . . 71-67-71–209

John Spina, Schwenksville. . . 69-69-72–210

Brian Kelly, Lewisburg. . . 73-69-68–210

Dan Thompson, Johnstown. . . 70-70-70–210

Mike Larkin, Gibsonia. . . 69-69-72–210

a-Travis Howe, Osceola. . . 75-66-69–210

Scott Hunter, Collegeville. . . 68-71-72–211

Jon Rusk, Yardley. . . 69-73-69–211

Bob Friend, Pittsburgh. . . 71-69-71–211

a-Matt Moot, Johnstown. . . 68-70-73–211

a-Nathan Sutherland, Wyomissing. . . 67-68-76–211

a: amateur