Gabriela Ruffels roared around the Atlanta Athletic Club in a career-low LPGA Tour round of 65 to get herself into the top echelon at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship today. The 21-year-old Australian, who is in her first few months as a professional and who needed a sponsor's invitation to get a start in the third women's major of the season, made a sensational run of four closing birdies to post seven-under for the day. It put her inside the top 20 and the best of the Australians at the halfway point despite a disappointing, opening 76 on Thursday. At three under overall, she is eight shots from the lead held by world No. 3, Nelly Korda. "Obviously much better today, 11 shots better, really happy with my round," said Ruffels, the former US Amateur champion. "I didn't think too much was different. I hit my irons better, made a few putts, and I birdied my last four, which was awesome. I'm obviously happy." Her brilliant run home began with a long birdie putt that dropped in from the fringe of the 15th. "I just wanted to two-putt, really then I saw it come down and go in," she said. The Melbourne-raised Ruffels hit a nine iron in close for another birdie at the 16th, then sunk a long bomb at 17th, and her iron shot to the par-four 18th almost popped into the hole, leaving her a tap-in for a fourth, consecutive birdie. "It's pretty fun," she said. "I really enjoyed it out there. The last four holes are some of the toughest out there so I'm happy to finish as I did."

Minjee Lee and Su Oh (1 over par) are well back but the surprise was Hannah Green's missed cut after she shot a second-round 76.

PGA Championship leaderboard