Ruffels and Rudgeley earn Ladies European Tour status

Kirsten Rudgeley – great boost to her professional aspirations – photo WATC

A former winner of and runner-up at the US Women’s Amateur Championship, Gabi Ruffels, and Perth’s, Kirsten Rudgeley, have emerged as the two Australians to gain the all important Category 12 status for the 2023 Ladies European Tour following the completion of their 90 hole qualifying school in La Manga in Spain.

Both players finished with a fifth and final round of 68 to finish 8th and 9th respectively and open the door for what should be a full season on the Ladies European Tour.

Rudgeley’s bounce-back from a potentially damaging 4th round of 75 was crucial as she pursued full status and the former runner-up at the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship now has the key ingredient of an early professional career, namely somewhere to play.

The London born but Perth raised golfer, this year played the Augusta National Women’s Championship and in 2021 qualified to play the AIG Women’s Open so she has considerable experience behind her as she sets out on a professional career.

Ruffels has played the LPGA Tour’s secondary series the Futures Tour in 2022 and finished 15th overall but needing to be inside the top ten to earn the right to play the LPGA Tour, she fell short and so the decision to head to Europe where she is expected to feature prominently given her excellent pedigree and background.

New Zealand’s Weyung Keh and Hanee Song finished an agonising one shot out of Category 12 status but will have the chance to play with Category 18 status which should gain them both sufficient starts to make their mark if good enough.