Article courtesy of: Canberra Times He&aposs the 15-year-old from a family of tennis stars but former Royal Canberra member Ryan Ruffels has set his sights on a career in golf. Fresh off a second place at the Federal Amateur Open, Ruffels will test himself against the best when he lines up in the Australian Masters and Australian Open this month. Ruffels finished two shots behind Queenslander James Gibellini at the Federal Amateur Open on Sunday. But the teenager is confident his efforts on the tough layout will bode well against US Masters and Australian PGA champion Adam Scott. Ruffels&apos dad Ray played Davis Cup tennis for Australia, was ranked world No.26 in singles and won the Australian Open doubles title in 1970. Mum AnnaMaria was ranked as high as No.18 in the world. But an unfazed Ruffels is choosing a career on the fairways and Golf Australia has granted him wildcard entries to the Masters in Melbourne this week and the Australian Open in Sydney from November 28. &apos&aposI&aposll be a little bit nervous, but I don&apost mind that. It&aposs a good thing,&apos&apos Ruffels said. &apos&aposI&aposm pretty confident that if I play well, that I can compete. I&aposm 15, but I&aposve got the attitude – experience is a bit overrated. I&aposve been hitting the ball great [in Canberra], I know it&aposs going to be tough but I am confident.&apos&apos The Federal Amateur Open has produced some superstar runners-up. World No.20 Jason Day finished second as a 15-year-old a decade ago and Marc Leishman also came through the ranks. Ruffels lived in Canberra while his father was the AIS tennis coach, but the family has since moved to Melbourne. He launched a last-round charge against Gibellini on Sunday, but his two-under-par round wasn&apost enough for victory. Gibellini, 24, finished 12th at the same tournament last year and has been on the amateur circuit for six years. He hopes his two-shot win – the first of his career – is a sign he&aposs ready to turn professional next year.
Author: Chris Dutton / Canberra Times