Win without profit for Ruffels

Ryan Ruffels has consistently played well this season in Central and South America.

Ryan Ruffels was planning to win his way from the LatinoAmerica Tour.

But although this breakthrough victory this season has remained tempting at arm & # 39; s length, the young Victorian has put down a performance that will change his life from next year.

Ruffels, 21, was in the top 10 of the tertiary South American tour of the US PGA when the recent Peru Open was closed, where he spent the entire season.

And from that position, the former two-time Australian junior champion himself has earned a berth in the final phase of the qualifying school of the Korn Ferry Tour in mid-December.

"And everyone who comes to that stage will get a certain status on Korn Ferry next year," Ruffels excitedly told Golf Australia from Argentina today.

"Of course it is important to do as well as possible at Q-school and improve your status, but it is nice to know that I can play there next year."

Of course, with just three events to play on the schedule of LatinoAmerica, the Florida-based Aussie hopes to turn his countless opportunities this year into that elusive victory to celebrate that graduation.

"I've been in the area a few times this year (three times second place and a few third places, one for each coming to Canada on the Mackenzie Tour), so it would be nice to get over the line quickly, " he said.

"But I have the feeling that I am now playing much more consistently and that I am now 12 and 13 without having my best things … so that is also important."

Ruffels is 10th in the Order of Merit of the tour, comfortably led by the Argentinian Augusto Nunez.

But positions from No. 2 to No. 10 separated by just over $ 15,000, the Australian knows that another good week will have him back in the top five who will earn the full Korn Ferry Tour status the easier way.

"That is clearly still the main goal and … I have the feeling that there is a really good week around here, so with that close, another top two or three finishes and I hope to be back in the top five. "

The tour has shifted this week to the southern foothills of the Andes Mountains for the Argentina Classic at the spectacular Chapelco Golf Resort in Patagonia.

From there it will be back to Buenos Aires next week for the Argentina Open and then two weeks off for the Florida final tour on December 5-8, the same week as the Australian Open.

"I am really disappointed that I am not allowed to play in the Aussie summer this year, but I think everyone understands that I have to do these events (including the Q-school that follows)," Ruffels said.

"But hopefully if everything goes well, I don't have to worry about this anymore and I can play a full Aussie summer next year."