12 May 2022 | Professional golf |

Ruffels, Kim, Kemp join US Women's Open field

by Martin Blake

Gabi Ruffels, Grace Kim image
Gabi Ruffels (left) and Grace Kim celebrate with their US Women's Open invitations.

Two of Australia’s best young female pros, and of the country's most experienced LPGA Tour players, have picked up spots in the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina next month.

On Wednesday morning, Victorian Gabriela Ruffels graduated from the Dragonfly Country Club qualifying sectional to join Sydney’s Grace Kim in the field for the greatest tournament in women’s golf, while one day later New South Wales' Sarah Kemp booked her place alongside them after qualifying at Belle Haven Country Club .

Ruffels, 22, will be competing in her second US Women’s Open.

She was tied-13th in the 2020 edition in Houston playing on an invitation as part of her 2019 US Women’s Amateur victory.

More recently she has been playing on the Epson Tour in the US.

Kim, 21, will be making her major championship debut having passed through qualifying in a playoff in New Jersey earlier this week.

She is a former Australian Amateur (2021) and Australian Junior Amateur champion. Kim also has been playing on the Epson Tour recently.

Kemp, 36, will tee it up at the US Women's Open for the sixth time after making her first appearance in 2010.

She is currently playing on the LPGA, but squeezed in a quick trip back home last month for the Ladies European Tour's Australian Women's Classic - Bonville where she finished in a tie for eighth.

The US Women's Open will be played from 2-5 June and carries a $US10 million prize pool.

Other Australians already qualified include Minjee Lee and Hannah Green.

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