US Women's Open Golfer Rachel Rohanna Balances Motherhood and Competition

During the opening round of the US Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club on May 31, 2024, golfer Rachel Rohanna faced an unexpected challenge. While waiting to tee off at the notoriously difficult 12th hole, Rohanna took the opportunity to change her 8-month-old daughter's diaper.

Rohanna, a mother of two, was waiting for 45-50 minutes at the par-3 12th hole when she noticed her daughter, Greenlee Kay, had an accident. She brought her husband Ethan and daughter inside the ropes to a roped-off area to change the diaper. Rohanna described it as a 'two-man effort'.

After changing the diaper, Rohanna went on to par the hole, which played to an average of 3.8 in the opening round. Despite the distraction, she managed to refocus and finished the round with a score of 76, six-over par.

Rohanna, who holds LPGA status but primarily plays on the Epson Tour, is the only player in the field local to the Keystone State. She resides on a cattle ranch in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. This tournament marks her fourth US Women's Open appearance.

The 12th hole at Lancaster Country Club proved to be a significant challenge for many golfers, including world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who carded a septuple-bogey ten. The hole, a 161-yard par-3, averaged almost a full shot over par for the day because of a brisk north-west wind. The US Women's Open hole proved to be a tough test for many players.

Despite the challenging conditions and the unexpected interruption, Rohanna's ability to balance her responsibilities as a mother and a professional golfer was noteworthy. 'I was talking to my husband and looked down and happened to see that my youngest was just – went to the bathroom all over the place,' Rohanna said. 'I was like, Ethan! So I brought them inside the ropes, and we went into a roped-off area and changed her. It was a two-man effort to get that taken care of.'

Rohanna's experience highlights the unique challenges faced by athletes who are also parents. Her determination and ability to maintain focus despite the distractions are a demonstration of her resilience.

Rohanna will look to improve her position and make the cut as the tournament progresses. She is scheduled to tee off for her second round at 12:30 pm local time on Friday.

Key Takeaways

• Rachel Rohanna changed her 8-month-old daughter's diaper during the US Women's Open.
• She did it during a 45-50 minute wait at the 12th hole, a notoriously difficult par-3.
• After the diaper change, Rohanna parred the hole and finished the round with a 76.
• Rohanna is a mother of two and the only player in the field from Pennsylvania.
• She will tee off for her second round at 12:30 pm local time on Friday.