The path from the amateur ranks to professional golf can be a long, winding path filled with bumps and potholes to maneuver.
After switching from tennis to golf in 2015, Gabriela Ruffels had a stellar amateur career at the University of Southern California that included a win at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur and runner-up showing the following year. As a rookie on the Epson Tour in 2022, the Aussie earned five top-10 finishes and ultimately finished five spots shy of an LPGA card. The 23-year-old then missed the deadline to register for LPGA Q-Series and returned to the Epson Tour for the 2023 season.
Nine months later and with seven tournaments to go on the season, Ruffels can officially call herself an LPGA member after earning the first of 10 available tour cards via the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card.
“I’m so excited to officially say that I will be on the LPGA Tour next year. It has been my goal since I turned pro at the start of 2021, and I’m so proud to have earned it through the Epson Tour,” said Ruffels via a release. “It means the world and is something that every little girl playing golf strives to do, so to be able to have status for next year and play in the tournaments that I grew up watching on TV is such a great feeling. I’m super excited for 2024.”
Ruffels earned her first professional win at the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Championship in March and then won the Garden City Charity Classic in May after tying the Epson Tour’s all-time 54-hole scoring record (-19). Her third win at last week’s Four Winds Invitational sealed the deal. She’s also made the cut in three LPGA events this season, including two majors at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and U.S. Women’s Open.
“Gabi’s success this year is a testament to not only her world-class talent but also to her resilience, positive attitude and hard work.” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “Gabi is ready to compete at the very highest level of the game and we look to seeing her shine on the LPGA next year.”
