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Gabriela Ruffels win the 119th U.S. Women's Amateur, becoming the fourth Trojan to do so.
Photo by: USGA Museum
Gabriela Ruffels Wins 119th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship
August 11, 2019 | Women's Golf, Features
Trojan junior All-American is USC's fourth winner of the event.
Trojan All-American junior Gabriela Ruffels, on a hot streak unmatched in amateur golf right now, used three birdies over the final four holes to defeat Stanford's Albane Valenzuela 1up to win the 119th U.S. Women's Amateur on Sunday (Aug. 11) at Old Waverly G.C. in West Point, Miss.
Ruffels, who won the 2019 North & South Amateur Championship in July with five straight match play wins, made it an amazing 11 straight match play victories today to become USC's fourth U.S. Amateur winner. She joins USC's previous title holders in Jennifer Song (2009), Becky Lucidi (2002) and Jill McGill (1993).
"I'm speechless right now. This is my dream, this is my goal, and I've worked so hard to get here," Ruffels said. "Credit to Albane. She's such a great player and person. It was a great match and it could've gone either way but I'm so happy I have the trophy."
Ruffels defeated Valenzuela's teammate Andrea Lee in the semifinals Saturday to set up a all-day drag-out battle Sunday.
Valenzuela, a Cardinal All-American first teamer, got out to a two-hole lead through four holes but Ruffels, an All-American second teamer, countered by winning 5 and then taking four straight between 8 and 11 to lead by three holes.
The Stanford rising senior took back the momentum with four wins between 12 and 16 to take a one-hole lead before Ruffels evened the match on 18 at the halfway point.
The match seesawed from there, Valenzuela taking one-hole leads on 21, 26 and 30 only to see Ruffels even the match each time, the last with a birdie on 15 to square things through 33 holes.
That came minutes after USC head coach Justin Silverstein, caddying for Ruffels all week, had to leave the course for a pre-planned return trip to Southern California to attend a funeral for a death in the family, the timing forcing him to leave the match early.
Unfazed by the caddy switch (a local collegiate golfer and friend took over the bag), Ruffels marched on. She and Valenzuela each bogeyed 16, but Ruffels drained her eight-foot birdie putt on 17 to take her first lead of the second 18.
Ruffels' 12-foot birdie attempt on 18 was about seven feet longer than what was awaiting Valenzuela, but the Aussie didn't give her a chance to putt, curving in the championship-winning putt for the trophy.
"That was an absolutely incredible week of golf by Gabriela," Silverstein said. "Accomplishments like this are a product of a lot of hard work and over the past year Gabi has put in as much work as anybody. I'm honored that Gabi let me be a part of this week by being her caddy and I'm sure she's excited to bring the U.S. Amateur trophy back to Heritage Hall."
Both players have earned invitations to the 2020 U.S. Women's Open with the finish.
Congratulations to @USCWomensGolf's @GabiRuffels on winning the #USWomensAm with a gorgeous birdie on the final hole! #FightOnpic.twitter.com/ylIcMT6viG
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) August 11, 2019
Ruffels, who won the 2019 North & South Amateur Championship in July with five straight match play wins, made it an amazing 11 straight match play victories today to become USC's fourth U.S. Amateur winner. She joins USC's previous title holders in Jennifer Song (2009), Becky Lucidi (2002) and Jill McGill (1993).
"I'm speechless right now. This is my dream, this is my goal, and I've worked so hard to get here," Ruffels said. "Credit to Albane. She's such a great player and person. It was a great match and it could've gone either way but I'm so happy I have the trophy."
Ruffels defeated Valenzuela's teammate Andrea Lee in the semifinals Saturday to set up a all-day drag-out battle Sunday.
Valenzuela, a Cardinal All-American first teamer, got out to a two-hole lead through four holes but Ruffels, an All-American second teamer, countered by winning 5 and then taking four straight between 8 and 11 to lead by three holes.
The Stanford rising senior took back the momentum with four wins between 12 and 16 to take a one-hole lead before Ruffels evened the match on 18 at the halfway point.
The match seesawed from there, Valenzuela taking one-hole leads on 21, 26 and 30 only to see Ruffels even the match each time, the last with a birdie on 15 to square things through 33 holes.
That came minutes after USC head coach Justin Silverstein, caddying for Ruffels all week, had to leave the course for a pre-planned return trip to Southern California to attend a funeral for a death in the family, the timing forcing him to leave the match early.
Unfazed by the caddy switch (a local collegiate golfer and friend took over the bag), Ruffels marched on. She and Valenzuela each bogeyed 16, but Ruffels drained her eight-foot birdie putt on 17 to take her first lead of the second 18.
Ruffels' 12-foot birdie attempt on 18 was about seven feet longer than what was awaiting Valenzuela, but the Aussie didn't give her a chance to putt, curving in the championship-winning putt for the trophy.
"That was an absolutely incredible week of golf by Gabriela," Silverstein said. "Accomplishments like this are a product of a lot of hard work and over the past year Gabi has put in as much work as anybody. I'm honored that Gabi let me be a part of this week by being her caddy and I'm sure she's excited to bring the U.S. Amateur trophy back to Heritage Hall."
Both players have earned invitations to the 2020 U.S. Women's Open with the finish.
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