Gabriela Ruffels set to join LPGA Tour after a record-setting win

Rising Aussie stars are picking up regular trophies in the US and the latest win comes with an even bigger reward.

Gabriela Ruffels won her second event of 2023 at the Garden City Charity Classic.

Rising Aussie star Gabriela Ruffels set two records on her way to a stunning second victory for 2023 that all but locks in progression to the LPGA Tour next year.

Ruffels, the sister of fellow pro Ryan, broke the course record in the opening round and then broke a 20-year, 36-hole Epson Tour scoring record after round two before powering to four-shot win in Kansas to seal her spot on top of the tour rankings.

It continued a blistering start to the year for Aussies in the US, with LPGA tour rookie Grace Kim sealing her first win, in just her third start, while major champion Hannah Green won for the first time since 2019 in Los Angeles last weekend.

Green was also part of the Australian team that made the final for the first time at the $3m International Crown event in San Francisco.

The top-10 players on the Epson Tour rankings at season‘s end will progress to the lucrative LPGA Tour. Ruffels, who also won in Arizona in March, is in pole position to seal her spot.

“My game is good right now. This win is a big step in the right direction,” Ruffels, 23, said.

“We are all out here for the same reason and that is to get to the next level on the LPGA Tour.

“I didn’t know about the 54-hole record. It kind of shocked me, but it is really cool. It is always good when you are setting records and hopefully there are more to come.

“There is still a long season to go, but I am definitely making some strides.”

Make it rain💦 #EpsonTour | #Road2LPGA | #GCCharityClassicpic.twitter.com/JrTBQCZ877

— Epson Tour (@EpsonTour) May 7, 2023

Ruffels, a former US Women’s Amateur champion, opened the event with a course record 10-under 62 – and that was just the beginning, as she posted a 64 in the second round.

Her 19-under par total after 54 holes equalled that scoring record.

Despite taking a big lead into the final day, Ruffels said she needed to hold her nerve.

“I was definitely very nervous, but I knew I had a big buffer which really helped,” she said.

“just tried to play every shot as it was and not get too ahead of myself.

“I was trying to play super-consistent today and I was able to do that, so I was very happy.”

Originally published as Gabriela Ruffels set to join LPGA Tour after a record-setting win