Vic Open: Ruffles takes two-shot lead

BACK on home soil for the first time in four long years, Ryan Ruffels has gone on a remarkable record-setting spree on day one of the Vic Open at 13th Beach.

The former teen prodigy carded a sizzling 11-under 61 to claim a two-shot lead after yesterday’s (Thursday, February 9) opening round.

It equalled The Creek course record set back in 2017 by Jake McLeod and marked the first time 24-year-old Ruffels had shot 11 under at a professional event.

He had successive eagles on the 16th and 17th to come home in a scorching seven-under 29.

And his playing partners Elvis Smylie and Nathan Barbieri lost little in comparison, both signing for 65s.

It is understood to be the first time in Australasian Tour history that a playing group has shot a combined score of 25 under.

“We just all got into a good rhythm quite early,” Ruffels said.

“Barbs started off really well, Elvis rattled a few off in a row, then I had my turn for a little bit and we all closed shop pretty well together.

“Feeding off each other is a weird one, I don’t know if there’s anything to it, but it certainly happened today.”

Ruffels and Smylie have known each other since their pre-school years, although the original connection was through tennis rather than golf.

“I remember being with Elvis at the Queensland event prior to the Aussie Open tennis because both our parents were professional tennis players so we used to hang out,” said Ruffels, the son of Ray and AnnaMaria Ruffels.

Ruffels shot to prominence as the 2014 world junior champion and first finished in the top 30 at the Australian Open as a 15-year-old.

He has spent the last three years on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour in the US and – mostly due to COVID-19 travel restrictions – had not been in Australia since early 2019.

“I knew I was improving,” he said.

“I’ve worked very hard on my mental game, just becoming a better person before a better golfer and I think that’s helped a lot.

“I’m relaxed being back home in Australia, being around a lot of the boys I grew up with.

“I want to also show them that I can still play.”

Late in the day, Mathew Goggin eagled his final hole to move into a tie for second with Deyen Lawson at 63, a shot clear of fellow Australians Gavin Fairfax and amateur Jack Buchanan and New Zealander Michael Hendry.

Smylie and Barbieri were in a six-man group tied for seventh.

Australian young gun Cassie Porter has upstaged two of the biggest names in women’s golf to claim a share of the lead after the opening round of the Vic Open.

Playing alongside seven-time major winner Karrie Webb and another major champ and former world No.1, Jiyai Shin from South Korea, the 20-year-old Porter claimed the honours with a bogey-free six-under 66.

It left her atop the leaderboard with Thailand’s Pavarisa Yoktuan.

Shin was in a group of five tied for third at five-under, while Webb hung tough and birdied the 18th to get back to par.

But the story of the day was Porter.

Playing on the more difficult Beach course in the trickier afternoon conditions after the wind got up, she was off to a flying start with two birdies and an eagle inside the opening five holes.

There were two more birdies at the 10th and 13th and a clutch par-saving effort on the final hole of the day – all of it with a big smile on her face.

“I had so much fun out there,” Porter said.

“With two former world No.1s and major champions – what a group.

“I was pumped last night and it was really nice to come out and put a score on the board.

“I had nerves all day if I’m being honest.

“I was definitely on edge the whole time, but it kind of worked for me and I used it to my advantage and kept on top of everything.”

Porter, who turned professional in December 2021 and will play on the secondary Epson Tour in the US this year, is one of many young Australian female golfers to have benefited from the mentorship of Webb.

“Karrie and Jiyai are amazing to play with,” she said.

“You pick their brains about things every now and then.

“I tried not to today, but it’s hard not to when you’ve got two amazing players with you.”

Grace Kim, Sarah Jane Smith, Kristalle Blum and amateur Sarah Hammett were the next best-placed Australians in a tie for eighth at four under.

– WITH AAP