Golf-Unruffled Ruffels wins U.S. Women's Amateur with clutch finish

Teenager Gabriela Ruffels became the first Australian to win the U.S. Women's Amateur championship when she birdied the final two holes to beat Albane Valenzuela 1-up in the 36-hole final in Mississippi on Sunday. Ruffels, the daughter of former professional tennis players Ray Ruffels and Anna-Maria Fernandez, was behind for most of the final at the Old Waverly course in West Point.

But she proved clutch at the end, hitting a series of magnificent iron shots to clinch victory with four birdies in the final five holes. "This is my dream, my goal," said 19-year-old Ruffels at the victory presentation.

"I've worked so hard to get here. It was a great match. It could have gone either way but I'm so glad I have the trophy. I wanted it so bad." Valenzuela, 21, who was attempting to become the first Swiss winner, was also the losing finalist two years ago.

"It's hard to be that close. I fought hard so there's nothing to regret," she said. It was only the second time in the past century that the final pitted two non-American players, though both Ruffels and Valenzuela attend university in the United States.

Ruffels was the third Australian finalist, after Lindy Goggin (1981) and Anne-Marie Knight (1995), who both lost the title match. As if the pressure of playing the final was not enough, Ruffels had to switch bag carriers with a few holes left when her coach/caddie had to leave to catch a flight.

But she remained unruffled, hitting a soaring four-iron into the 33rd hole, the par-five 15th, for a two-putt birdie that tied it up. Ruffels took the lead two holes later when she fired a six-iron to eight feet at the par-three and sank the birdie putt.

She closed it out in style at the par-four 18th by holing a 15-foot birdie putt that barely toppled in on its final revolution.