When Laura Diaz got word her father’s pupil, Kaitlyn Rohrback, would be playing in the LPGA Pro-Am at Bulle Rock, she placed a phone call to the Pro-Am coordinators.
Shortly thereafter, the 10-year PGA pro and the Archbishop Spalding sophomore were paired up.
“I’d met her this winter, and she’s just a sweet girl,” Diaz said of Rohrback. “It worked out great, they honored my request.”
Rohrback, 16, has received lessons from Diaz’s father, Ron Philo. In her second consecutive appearance at the LPGA Pro-Am, Rohrback, Diaz and three other amateurs finished at a collective 12-under par 60- thanks, in part, to Rohrback’s 30-foot eagle putt on No. 15.
Diaz tried out Rohrback’s driver throughout the round, while offering up advice and encouragement.
“She talked about college and stuff like that,” Rohrback said. “I learned a lot. I need to work on my pitching and short shots around the green and stuff like that. I think I’ve gained a lot of distance from last year.”
Diaz, who finished eight shots off the lead in last year’s McDonald’s LPGA Championship, thinks Rohrback is well on her way to reaching her career goal of playing professionally.
“She’s a very good player. She hits it straight, right down the middle,” Diaz said. “I think you’re going to see a lot of her in the future, and I’m sure you’ll see her out here one day.”
OCHOA ARRIVES
Lorena Ochoa arrived at Bulle Rock Monday, one week after bowing out of the Ginn Tribute to return home to Guadalajara, Mexico for a family emergency.
The sixth place finisher in last year’s McDonald’s LPGA Championship withdrew from last week’s event to be with her father, whose brother, Pedro Ochoa, passed away Thursday morning.
Ochoa is chasing her second major this season. Last year, Ochoa finished six strokes behind winner Suzann Pettersen.
TEE TIMES ANNOUNCED
The tee times for Thursday’s round were unveiled Tuesday afternoon, with the first group starting at 7:15 a.m. and the final groups starting at 2:26 p.m.
A lineup of superstars, both veterans and up-and-comers, tee off in succession – Se Ri Pak (8:32), Laura Davies (8:43), Annika Sorenstam (8:54), Suzann Pettersen (9:05), Paula Creamer (9:16) and Natalie Gulbis (9:27) ? from No. 1 Thursday morning.
This year features one phenomenal trio ? Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel and Lorena Ochoa ? teeing off from No. 10 at 12:47p.m.
