FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 24, 2024

Gabriela Ruffels

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Gabby Ruffels after her round at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship. Just take us through the week and what were some of the highlights out there?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Yeah, such a special week considering that kind of back nine on Friday I was outside the cut line.

So had really, really good weekend and managed the wind. It was such a special week to be here at Palos Verdes with my family close by and, to kind of have my best result in an LPGA event.

Q. What does that say about either your game, where it's at, mental fortitude to be outside the cut line and work up and really shoot up the leaderboard, Top 5 finish looking like? What does that say about your game or mental fortitude?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Yeah, this course requires a lot mental toughness. No hole can be left for granted out there. It's very, very tough out there.

And, no, I was identify just really happy with my mental this week and how I remained tough and battled back and had a really good weekend.

Q. Were you aware of the situation when you chipped on to 18 if you needed the birdie or not? If so, what was the mindset as you were looking or the ball?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Actually really was not aware of that. I saw on 16 green that Nelly was at 11. I didn't know what the situation was really up until that point.

And then, yeah, I'm not sure what happened the last couple holes but then I saw before my putt that 9-under was the lead.

So I didn't realize that I -- I mean, standing over the putt I did realize that was to get into a playoff. It's cool. It's really cool to be in that situation. Unfortunately didn't make the putt, but thought I hit a pretty good putt.

Yeah, I mean, super, super proud of the week for sure.

Q. Southern California grad. What's it like being back, not home-home, but a second home? What's been the support you've gotten this week and just maybe the comfortability you've had?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Yeah, so you much support. This is definitely a home away from home. I went to school a half an hour away. My coach came out here. I say him on 10 and gave him a big hug, Justin from USC of course. That was really cool. A course of the USC girls came out as well.

Yeah, a couple teammates were out, and my family lives close by. My mom you grew up in this area and my whole kind of extended family was out here, I think even my grandparents, which is really special.

Having that support just really carried me through today.

Q. And then just couple events into your rookie season, obviously not your first start on the LPGA Tour, but where do you feel like your game is at maybe even compared to last year?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Yeah, no, I feel like I'm definitely playing well. Came off a good week in China. Not a great start to the year I guess in Bradenton, but worked hard these past couple weeks and I really feel like my game is in a good place.

You know, just goes to show this week and excited for the next couple weeks.