Aust teen Ruffels stars on US PGA Tour

Australiana amateur Ryan Ruffels has upstaged the pros to be tied fourth after the first round of the US PGA Tour's Canadian Open.

Teenage Australian amateur Ryan Ruffels has upstaged most of the pros, including world No.9 Jason Day, in his debut round on the US PGA Tour.

The 17-year-old son of former tennis pro Ray Ruffels fired a six-under-par 66 to be tied fourth after the opening round of the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey GC in Ontario.

He produced an eagle and five birdies to be just two strokes behind the leader, his playing partner Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.

In the field on a sponsor's invitation ahead of the US Amateur championship later this summer, Ruffels took confidence from the amateurs' performances in last week's British Open and rode the momentum of his group.

"It all just kind of clicked today," said Ruffels.

"To see (Irish amateur) Paul Dunne lead after three rounds and see three amateurs finish in the top 12 of the British Open - you look at it and think I'm competing against these guys every week, I can match it with them and match it with the pros.

"So it gives you confidence and I was able to carry that out there today.

"It's fun to be out here and fun to be where I want to be in the future."

The limelight is not new for Ruffels who made headlines as a 15-year-old at the 2013 Australian Open where he played a practice with Rory McIlory then went on to finish in a tie for 24th.

Day backed up from the disappointment of his British Open near-miss - when tied fourth, one shot outside the three-man playoff at St Andrews - by shooting a 68, four back as the next-best Australian.


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Source: AAP


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