Gabi marches while Steph hurts

Gabi Ruffels and her USC coach made caddy Justin Silverstein who managed to crack the figures on the 13th fairway. Photo: USGA

And then there was one in the most careful circumstances.

Gabi Ruffels was left to fly the Aussie flag with the US Women & # 39; s Amateur after Sydney friends Doey Choi and Steph Kyriacou suffered twisting exits when the game play began in Mississippi today.

Ruffels, a Victorian based at the University of Southern California, continued her exemplary recent form with a convincing 5 & 4 win over the American Shaebug Scarberry.

In the next game on the Old Waverly track, Choi made a bogeyman on the last to lose 1-down to Haylin Harris, while a par would have forced overtime because the American wobbled late.

But more heartache came later when her New South Wales team-mate Kyriacou was 4-up with four to play, but painfully fell on the 22nd hole against Aussie slayer Brooke Seay.

Remarkably, Seay was brought in from the pony on the 18th hole against another Sydneysider Grace Kim before finally reigning in 21 holes with the recent US Girls ’Amateur.

This time Seay made birds on the 15th, 16th and 18th – the last admitted – to force extra holes.

On the 19th, St. Michaels member hit a 6-meter birdie putt from the pony to relieve pressure on Seay. But the American quietly rolled into the 1.5 m answering bird to continue again.

Again it seemed that Seay was in trouble when her approach to the par-five 20 was caught up under a bunker lip and she was forced to continue playing.

But Kyriacou could not hit the home base and matching bogeys gave Seay another chance.

Nothing came on the par-three 21st, but the American rolled into a 5m birdie putt on the 22nd to finally prevail.

"I actually like being in that position," Seay said about her comeback from the edge.

“It's more busy, but in a way it's liberating to know that you just have to take that shot, and therefore something that is just a bit on, and my game started to take its place. I just played very solid the last few holes. "

So the hope of Australia falls on the shoulders of Ruffels, the Victoria Golf Club youngster who has made the best career in the last six months, including winning the recent North and South amateur at Pinehurst.

"I made a shaky start and she birdie the second … but she made three bogeys in the middle of the front nine and I just played golf regularly and was suddenly three or four up," Ruffels said.

"But I think the most important moment came on the 11th, because she had just made a birdie (a hole back), and then on that next green was in two and I had to lie out of thick rough ones.

"I managed to go up and down for a par when they were three-putted (from 12m) and had a bogey to give me the hole and go 4-up again.

"From that moment I was pretty solid."

Ruffels, still a relative newcomer to the elite wave at the age of 19, who only started the sport at the age of 15, said her great shape made her think big this northern summer.

"I really enjoy the matchplay … I think I played it a bit at home in Melbourne and with things like the Interstate Series, it doesn't feel (discouraging)," she said.

"And in that team environment at USC and things like the Eastlake Cup and the (NCAA) subjects play in match play, it all helped me and it's good for this event.

"I have definitely improved as a player (since I came here) (to college) and I am now playing at a constantly higher level than me."

Ruffles face Choi & # 39; s conqueror Harris in the round of 32.

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