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GILBERT, Ariz. — She missed out on a playoff 5 days in the past by a stroke. She posted her career-low spherical on the LPGA on Thursday.
Gabi Ruffels’ recreation is rounding into type in her twenty sixth begin within the huge leagues.
Ruffels shot an 8-under 64 at Seville Golf and Nation Membership, host venue for the inaugural Ford Championship, and was tied for the lead for a lot of the day within the first spherical on a sunny day within the Phoenix suburbs. She was in a three-way tie for the lead until some within the afternoon wave went low, making it a five-way tie, however then Pajaree Anannarukarn, who completed on No. 9 purchase making four-footer for birdie and the day’s lone 63.
Her bogey-free spherical featured a first-round excessive of 9 birdies, together with fives straight on Nos. 5 via 9 to cap her spherical. She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens.
As for Ruffels, she rebounded properly from her lone bogey on No. 7 with three straight birdies on Nos. 8 via 10. Her eagle got here on the par-5 fifth gap.
“I want I knew, as a result of I might wish to take it each week with me,” the Aussie stated when requested about how she’s sustaining momentum. “Simply having that confidence understanding that I performed nicely final week and the whole lot in my recreation felt rather well after which simply doing the identical issues, not considering an excessive amount of about it and using with the boldness.”
PHOTOS: Ford Championship
The 2019 U.S. Novice champ shot a 65 final Saturday close to Los Angeles however a closing 70 saved her one shot shy of a playoff with Nelly Korda and Ryann O’Toole. Korda, within the discipline this week and again within the No. 1 spot on the earth rankings, gained the occasion on the primary playoff gap.
The West Coast swing appears to be suiting Ruffels simply superb this season.
“My mother and father dwell in Palm Springs and I spend numerous time there. It’s very related climate-wise and the texture, that dry climate,” she stated. “I’ve performed in all probability numerous my golf prior to now 5 or 6 years in Palm Springs, so, yeah, I really like Phoenix. Sort of the identical really feel and appears like dwelling I assume.”
Ruffels has one other skilled win in Arizona. It got here 11 months in the past on the Epson Tour at Longbow Golf Membership in neighboring Mesa.
The 2023 @EpsonTour Participant of the 12 months is exhibiting out in Arizona 💥@GabiRuffels ties the early clubhouse lead within the desert pic.twitter.com/sema0NLliR
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 28, 2024
Azahara Munoz of Spain, who performed collegiately at close by Arizona State, was the primary in with a 64. She additionally eagled the fifth gap.
“It’s been some time,” she stated of her low spherical. “I’ve had a number of 5, 6 underneath, however not 8 underneath, which is absolutely, very nice. Yeah, makes me joyful to know that I can nonetheless do it.”
Germany’s Isi Gabsa later made it a three-way tie for the lead when she posted 64, together with 4 straight birdies on Nos.14-18.
The afternoon wave produced two extra 64s from one other former Solar Satan, Carlota Ciganda, in addition to world No. 2 Lilia Vu, who additionally had a nine-birdie, bogey-free spherical.
There are two golfers tied for seventh at 7 underneath – Celine Boutier and Hyo Joo Kim – after which swath of 11 golfers tied for ninth at 6 underneath. Add ’em up and that’s 19 golfers inside two photographs of the lead after 18 holes.
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