Gabi Ruffels takes on the men in US Amateur warmup

June 30th, 2020 / Nigel Yeoman

While her brother was busy trying to earn his way on to the PGA Tour this week, 2019 US Women’s Amateur champion, Gabi Ruffels, announced her plans to play the Jacksonville Amateur Championship.

Why is that big news? Well the Florida-based tournament is traditionally men’s only and the Australian will be the first women to play the event in its 59-year history.

Gabi Ruffels Gabi Ruffels (Credit: USGA)

“I thought it was a great opportunity to test my game before the [US] Women’s Am,” told the Golf Channel.

“The women’s amateur schedule has been very restricted with everything that’s going on, so has been tough to find women’s am events.”

Ruffels was born in Florida before her family eventually moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she made the transition from tennis to golf after becoming disillusioned with the grind needed to be a success in the tennis world.

The athletically-talented amateur made quick success of the move and at just 20-years-old seemingly has a huge future ahead of her in golf.

Her older brother, Ryan, who plays on the Korn Ferry Tour, went within one round of claiming his first Tour title last week at the Utah Championship and looks assured of an eventual place on the PGA Tour.