Ruffels lands US Open ticket

A dream come true if Gabi Ruffels qualifies for the 2019 US Open.

Four years ago, Gabi Ruffels dreamed of qualifying for the US Open. Today she lived that dream – with one big turn.

Her dream came true in golf, not tennis.

Ruffels, 19, today defeated a classy field in the California sectional qualifying, crowning two even-par-rounds of 72 to make up the second and final berth for the biggest women's golf tournament.

And in addition to the bubbling excitement of the Melbourne amateur, it was almost disbelief that her golf career had progressed so fast so far

"I only started playing golf about four years ago, so I always wanted to play in US Open tennis," she beamed.

"I can't believe I did this in golf, instead!

"That is completely crazy! I never thought this could happen."

The former Victoria Golf Club member has been exemplary for the University of Southern California in NCAA competition this year and will be joining her Trojan teammate Jennifer Chang at the Charleston Country Club in South Carolina from May 30 to June 2.

They were the only two players on p or higher in a field with different tour pros, including Tiff Joh and the two-time American Amateur Amateur champion Eun Jeong Seong, from Korea

In difficult conditions north of San Diego, one of the few mistakes Ruffels made in a tough 36-hole marathon when she approached her last green, the ninth at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club.

"I was pretty nervous. There was no live score, but I knew it was nearby and then I finally had to make a four-legged bogey," Ruffels said.

"I was very disappointed because in the worst case I thought I would need a par, but a bogey doesn't seem so bad right now."

The last addition to the Ruffels calendar completes a manic six weeks ahead.

She will be an important part of USC & # 39; s push to regional championship honor in Cle Elum (near Seattle), Washington, next weekend. Then, provided her team advances, she will play the NCAA final in Arkansas before going to South Carolina.

Ruffels has also received an invitation to participate in the Japanese women's tour at the Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open mid-June in Hyogo.

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