In-form Aussie rookie qualifies for US Women’s Open – Golf Australia Magazine – The Women’s Game

Ruffels shot rounds of 70-66 for a six-under par total of 136 at San Joaquin Country Club in Fresno, California, to earn one of two qualifying spots for the second major of the season from May 30 to June 2.

The 24-year-old is fresh off her career-best LPGA Tour performance, a third at last week’s Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey.

That result followed with a tie for third in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship in March and two other top-15 finishes in 2024, putting Ruffels in the lead in the LPGA’s rookie-of-the-year race.

Ruffels also finished in 40th place last month at the Chevron Championship, the first major of the year.

The former Australian junior tennis champion will be aiming for her fourth US Open title after finishing tied for 13th in an impressive debut in 2020, the year after winning the US Amateur Championship.

Ruffels already has four top-20 finishes at the majors and will join a strong Australian contingent at Lancaster Country Club, led by top-10 stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green.

Melbourne, Iowa women’s golfer Keeley Marx also qualified this week through Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield, Illinois.

Marx, 20, played rounds of 69-72 for a one-under total of 141, securing medalist honors and a major championship debut.

Ruffels, Lee, Green, Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Sarah Kemp, Robyn Choi and Karis Davidson also give Australia eight players in the field for the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey this week.

Nine of the world’s top 10 players, including world No. 1 Nelly Korda, will compete in the $3 million ($A4.5 million) event that starts on Thursday.

– Darren Walton