Australia’s Ryan Ruffels makes his return to the PGA Tour after Monday qualifying for the Shriners Children’s Open. Ruffels shot 65 at Boulder Creek Golf Club, and then made it through a 6-for-1 playoff, to earn his spot. The 24-year-old will make his 20th start on the PGA Tour.
Meanwhile, Jared Sawada has been known as a Monday qualifying maestro for the Sony Open in Hawaii. Add the Shriners Children’s Open to the list.
The Hawaii native carded a scintillating 11-under 61 at Boulder Creek GC to pace the field in Monday’s four-spot qualifier, earning a tee-time on Thursday at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.
Also qualifying for the Shriners Children’s Open were Spencer Levin (64), Xuewen Luo (64) and Ruffels (65).
Ruffels survived a 6-for-1 playoff at 7-under 65. The odd men out were Sam Triplett, Gavin Cohen, Ricky Barnes, Bhavik Patel and Kyle Westmoreland.
In all, 82 players posted a score at Boulder Creek Golf Club, competing for four spots at TPC Summerlin.
Here’s a capsule look at this week’s Monday qualifiers:
Ryan Ruffels (7-under 65; advanced via 6-for-1 playoff)
Age: 24
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
PGA Tour starts: 19
Cuts made: 10
Best PGA Tour finish: T20, 2016 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Notes: Adopted Orlando resident is set for first PGA Tour start since 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am … Has made 51 Korn Ferry Tour starts across 2020-22, highlighted by a runner-up at the 2020 Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Aetna … Advanced through First Stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School last month as he aims to regain status on that circuit … Highly regarded junior player in Australia before turning pro in January 2016 at age 17 … Parents were both professional tennis players; sister Gabi is a professional golfer currently competing on the Epson Tour.
Jared Sawada (11-under 61)
Age: 32
Hometown: Mililani, Hawaii
Alma mater: University of Hawaii-Manoa
PGA Tour starts: 5
Cuts made: 1
Best PGA Tour finish: T69, 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii
Notes: This will mark his PGA Tour debut in the mainland US, as all five of his prior appearances came at the Sony Open in Hawaii … Held conditional Korn Ferry Tour status in 2022 after advancing to Final Stage of Q-School but made just one start, missing the cut at the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank … Has made two cuts in 16 career PGA Tour Canada starts … Never averaged better than a 77.2 stroke average for a collegiate season, but his determined spirit has brought him opportunities as a professional.
Spencer Levin (8-under 64)
Age: 38
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Alma mater: University of New Mexico
PGA Tour starts: 242
Cuts made: 146
Best PGA Tour finish: Runner-up, 2011 World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba
Notes: Wily veteran has gained legions of fans throughout his career for fiery demeanour and raw expression of emotions … Has played eight full seasons on the PGA Tour. He finished 47th on the 2011 FedExCup, a season in which he finished runner-up to Johnson Wagner in a playoff at Mayakoba. He also qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016 … Also Monday qualified into the 2020 Shriners Children’s Open, which marked his only TOUR start between 2018 and this week … Played 16 events on the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour, highlighted by a T-5 at the 2021 Live and Work in Maine Open … Won a sectional baseball title at Elk Grove HS; pitched in three California State Championship All-Star baseball games.
Xuewen Luo (8-under 64)
Age: 26
Hometown: Yantai, China
PGA Tour starts: 0
Notes: Has made 29 career PGA Tour China appearances, compiling four top-10 finishes. His best showing across those starts is T6 at the 2016 Henan Open and 2018 Changsha Championship … Has spent time on the Golden State Tour and lists California as his current state of residence … Won the 2021 Wuhan Classic on the China Tour.
