Ruffles ready in Argentina

Ryan Ruffels has been consistent throughout South and Central America throughout the year.

A stirring nine at the Argentinian Open today has brought Ryan Ruffels closer to the Korn Ferry Tour for next season.

Ruffels, ranked 10th on an overloaded LatinoAmerica Tour cash list and finishing fifth for a full card on the US secondary circuit, fired an opening two-under-par 68 at the famous Jockey Club in Buenos Aires.

And with a handful of its close rivals in precarious positions regarding the cut, the young Australian is ready to reach the $ US7500 gap between himself and the top five of the money list when the tournament started.

But it was not always that smooth sailing for the Victoria, who double bogeyde the fourth and fourth holes and then the next bogey.

The 21-year-old, however, did not panic and started rebuilding on the seventh with a little bird.

There was still a little hiccup on the 12th, but the double Australian junior champion then peeled four birds in six holes to close his round in a share of 10 and momentum high for round two.

The South African Victor Lange played his best round of the season to finish with two under seven, but he is sufficiently low on the money list that even the victory would not push him past Ruffels.

Of those in the immediate and realistic race between positions 3-10, Jared Wolfe is second in five and fellow American Patrick Flavin is one behind Ruffels in one.

The others are mostly in a race to make halfway through when the game resumes tonight.

Ruffels already has a partial status on the Korn Ferry Tour next year, thanks to his position in the money list during an interim season.

But a top-five berth can prevent the need to go to Q-school and ensure greater status in 2020.

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