USC’s Gabriela Ruffels to turn pro; will make debut later this month on the LPGA
Gabriela Ruffels announced on Instagram Feb. 10 that she will forgo her final semester at USC and make her pro debut at the Gainbridge LPGA event later this month. She has also signed a contract with Nike.
Ruffels’ lightning-fast ascension in the women’s game – the former tennis player didn’t take up golf until age 15 – culminated in a 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur title and two top-15 finishes at LPGA majors last season. She leaves the amateur game ranked fifth in the world.
“USC has meant the world to me and has been the best decision I’ve ever made,” Ruffels said in a release. “The past three years at USC have helped me improve not only as a golfer, but as a person and I am forever grateful to my coaches, teammates, support staff and the whole Trojan family for all their support.
“As far as my decision to turn professional, it was a super difficult decision to make but I feel as though I am ready and I’m excited to take my game to the professional level. I have been presented with some opportunities and I’m looking forward to seeing how I far I can go with them. I will be rooting on the USC Women’s Golf team from wherever I am in the world. We have an awesome team filled with great players and I wish them the best of luck to go all the way this year.”
Earlier this week the Trojans competed for the first time in 11 months, crushing the field at the Lamkin San Diego Invitational by 24 strokes. Ruffels was not in the lineup.
“During Gabi’s time here she was able to improve over 700 spots in the WAGR (World Amateur Golf Rankings), which is an amazing accomplishment,” said third-year USC Head Coach Justin Silverstein, who caddied for Ruffels during both of her deep runs at the U.S. Amateur Championships as well as at this year’s U.S. Open. “We are incredibly pleased with the development she has made in our system and can’t wait to see how good she can get.”
Ruffels won two tournaments in her three seasons at USC and helped the Trojans to 11 tournament wins, including the 2019 Pac-12 Championship, and helped lead USC to the 2018 NCAA Championships match play semifinals and the 2019 NCAA quarterfinals.
She lost to Rose Zhang in the final of the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur and competed in a second straight Palmer Cup last winter.
Ruffels’ T-15 at the ANA Inspiration last year earned her a spot in this year’s field. She lives 20 minutes away from Missions Hills in Indian Wells, California.
Even without Ruffels, the Trojan lineup still features four All-Americans in seniors Allisen Corpuz, Amelia Garvey and Alyaa Abdulghany and junior Malia Nam. Corpuz, Garvey and Abdulghany are all ranked among the top 35 amateurs in the world.
There are six Trojans in the field for the upcoming Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
