Gabi Ruffels – LPGA Tour / Getty Images
Victorian Gabi Ruffels has produced her best finish on the LPGA Tour and, in doing so, collected her biggest cheque (US$201,000) when recording a 3rd place finish at this past weekend’s Cognizant Founders Cup event in Clifton New Jersey.
Ruffels may have finished a massive 15 shots behind the winner Rose Zhang and 13 behind runner-up Madelene Sagstrom but in her first season as a fully fledged LPGA Tour player, the former US Amateur Champion is certainly finding her feet.
Ruffels leads the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race and has earned US$435,000 in her eight starts to date.
“Yeah, really good week,” said Ruffels. “Finishing third is obviously my best result yet. I had a tied third at PV, so, yeah, this is definitely my best result.
“Kind of an up-and-down week. That golf course is — it’s kind of like that. Other than Rose and Madelene, everyone was kind of under 10-under. So there were a lot of bogeys out there and a lot of birdies as well.
“Just had to hang tough mentally, and I was proud of myself that I did that.
“I learned so much. I guess like a few things with my swing that I’m, working on. I feel like I’m making strides with that with my coach. Just mentally on a golf course like this, just trying to hang tough and just seeing where at that puts you.”
Ruffels began the year in 150th place in the Rolex World Ranking but as a result of four top 15 finishes including the two 3rd placed efforts she will now be close to the top 50.
After her stunning season on the Epson Tour last year where she won three times and led the standings, Ruffels continues to impress and seems assured of advancing into the elite of the game in the not-too-distant future.
Minjee Lee finished in a share of 7th place.
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