n style=”font-size:12px;”>The Autumn months have provided rich pickings for National Squad member Ryan Ruffels, with the 16 year-old Victorian winning four times in March and April.
The stretch began with his victory by one stroke at the Riversdale Cup in early March. That result set the record as the youngest-ever winner of the championship in its 106-year history after posting rounds of 72-72-66-70 (280).
From there Ruffels headed to Victoria's Yarra Valley to the St John course at the Heritage Golf and Country Club for the Australian Junior Championship – taking on a field of Australia's best junior golfers.
Under gloomy skies and in rain-sodden conditions, Ruffels shot rounds of 70-69-68-70 (-11) to win the championship by three strokes. The win saw his name etched on the trophy alongside Adam Scott and Jason Day.
Ruffels then joined up with his Victorian team mates at the Australian Boys' Interstate Teams Matches at the same venue.
iIn an incredible team performance, the Victorians won 32 of a possible 35 individual matches over the four days, making it 10 victories in the championship since it began in 1958.
After a break over Easter, Ruffels met up again with senior team mates in the Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches. He was one of the youngest players in history to be selected for the Senior team.
The Victorians triumphed again and other than a narrow defeat on the final day, Ruffels did not lose another match en route to helping the Victorian men lift the trophy for the first time since 2009.