Ruffels goes up again in card race

Ryan Ruffels has been super consistent throughout the season on the LatinoAmerica Tour.

Today Ryan Ruffels has taken another step towards the Korn Ferry Tour with an exciting finish at the Argentinian Open.

Despite a potentially disastrous triple bogey on the tricky par-three 12th at the famous Jockey Club in Buenos Aires, the young Australian bought a timely four-under-par 66 to tear through the field to a share of the fourth.

With the top five in the season-dependent order of merit of the LatinoAmerica Tour guaranteed for a ticket to the secondary American circuit next year, Ruffels moved from the 10th to the seventh with only one event left.

Although the tournament was won by Colombian Ricardo Celia in a 10-off play-off, the most important result for Ruffels was actually the third place of the American Jared Wolfe, who, like the Victorian, beat the money list.

Wolfe, who returned from his own below-average front nine, went from ninth to fifth in the order of merit and is now the man to catch Ruffels, slightly less than $ 5,000 in advance.

The last event is the Tour Championship in three weeks in Florida.

Ruffles burst out of the blocks in the final round and were three under by six for back-to-back bogeys.

They were quickly swept away by a brilliant three eagle in the short par-five 10th and another bird on the 11th got the Victorian carried away.

Up to the 12th on the course designed by Alister MacKenzie, a wind down par three, but shielded on the tees by the trees along the length of the hole, which also has an "inverted dish" green.

"I knew there was a bit of wind, but it was 184 meters and I hit my 9-iron 165, but as soon as I hit it, there was a gust of wind and it bounced over the back and killed a fence," Ruffels said.

"Sideways for my second, still had no shot, only my third could knock to the front right of the green and then continue and double-punch … an easy six, really.

"But I learned a few years ago when I missed my less than one FedEx Cup point about how much each recording can mean, so I just let it go and was really happy with the way I ended up."

That series included birdies on the 14th, 15th and 18th holes when the 21-year-old made his place back in the rankings.

"I'm glad to have done that … just a few thousand dollars between me and the fifth now and another week to go."

The tour takes a two-week break before returning to Miami.

"That will come at a very good time for me," said Ruffels from the break.

"I will take the week off, then let (coach) Denis (McDade) come the next week and then go back in.

"I will have Mackey Caddy in front of me (Golf Australia & Luke), so it should be great."

Ruffels has already earned himself a number of inviting Korn Ferry starts based on his position in the money list at a closing point a few months ago.

But regardless of his pursuit for a top five berth or those invitations, he will play the Q-school final next week to try and improve his status for 2020,

"I'm playing well again, so hopefully it all comes together."

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