The Tribune

BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHE didn’t make the final cut, but Georgette Rolle was quite thrilled that she turned in her best performance ever in the four appearances that she made in the 2017 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Golf Classic.

Rolle, awarded the Bahamian exemption to participate in the first LPGA tournament for the year, missed the cut after she completed the first two days of competition at the Ocean Golf Club on Paradise with rounds of 76-74 for a total of 150.

“I felt like I played like I belonged out there,” Rolle told the Tribune. “I was comfortable. I guess that’s the perk of being in it for the fourth time. I was definitely comfortable out there and I played with a lot more intensity than I did before.

“Since I was only six shots of, I think this year I will play in one or two events. My Fourteen Clubs still take up a lot of my time, trying to get them to where I need them to be, but I’m going to see how those events good because I’m hitting the ball very well. I feel like I can play out there.”

Rolle, with the assistance of her caddie Marcus Pratt, said she was fortunate to take a break from her Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy that she operates at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex to travel to the United States to get some practice in before the tournament.

The month away in the professional environment paid of big dividends for Rolle as she produced her best showing ever.

“I found a course nearby and I was at the course every day, just chipping and living in that professional golf atmosphere,” she pointed out. “I got up, grabbed some breakfast and headed to the golf course. In the evening, I didn’t have any errant to run so I just went to bed and got a good night sleep.”

Her mental focus, one of the greatest attributes needed to play the game, was extremely high and Rolle said that helped with her renewed approach to the tournament.

“I wasn’t worried about playing poorly and what people would say about it,” she insisted. “I just went out there and played my game to the best of my ability.”

In critiquing her game, Rolle said if she can improve on her using her long irons a little more, considering the fact that she doesn’t hit the ball as far as she used too, and a little more on her short game, which she saw a drastic improvement, she was confident that she can only get better.

Although she was done, Rolle said she stayed around so she can get as many pointers and the experience and exposure from her more seasoned counterparts in the sport as she could while they are in the tournament.

In 2008, Rolle said she met Brittany Lincicome when they participated in a number of Sun Coast Tournaments in Florida and she was thrilled to see the progress that she’s made as one of the top golfers in the world today.

She noted that the world number one ranked player Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, has spent some time interacting.

“She’s not playing this week, but she’s in her daily routine practicing and working on her mental aspect of the game,” Rolle said. “Some of the players have television crews following them around as they participate.”

Rolle said what has been so encouraging for her is people have come up to her inquiring on of her wish of the tours she’s participated in because of the way she played.

“But I can only tell them that I am teaching full time,” she stressed. “They have seen the potential in me and that has given me a lot of incentive to move on.”

If afforded the opportunity to compete again next year, Rolle said she’s confident that she can only get better as she take advantage of the experienced gained this year.