One of Australia’s brightest prospects has made the leap from amateur to professional golf.
Gabi Ruffels, whose brother Ryan is also a tour professional, has opted to forgo the rest of her college career at the University of Southern California (USC) and turn pro, according to a Golf Channel report.
The 20-year-old became the first Australian to win the US Women’s Amateur in 2019 and lost in the final of the same championship last year.
“USC has meant the world to me and has been the best decision I’ve ever made,” Ruffels said in a release. “The past three years at USC have helped me improve not only as a golfer, but as a person and I am forever grateful to my coaches, teammates, support staff and the whole Trojan family for all their support.
“As far as my decision to turn professional, it was a super difficult decision to make but I feel as though I am ready and I’m excited to take my game to the professional level. I have been presented with some opportunities and I’m looking forward to seeing how I far I can go with them. I will be [cheering] on the USC women’s golf team from wherever I am in the world. We have an awesome team filled with great players and I wish them the best of luck to go all the way this year.”
Ruffels is set to make her pro debut in two weeks at the Gainbridge LPGA event at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida, from February 25-28.
