Unlikely Leaders: Former Tennis Talents Cara Gainer and Gabriela Ruffels Lead Evian Championship Golf
Former tennis hopefuls Cara Gainer and Gabriela Ruffels are making an unlikely charge, leading the Evian Championship Golf major.
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Two surprising contenders with a shared past in tennis, Cara Gainer and Gabriela Ruffels, have emerged as co-leaders at the Evian Championship heading into the final round. On Saturday, Dec. 13, the Englishwoman and Australian powered through the field to position themselves for a stunning victory in the year’s fourth women’s golf major. Their journey highlights a unique path from the court to the links, now on the cusp of an extraordinary triumph.
A Shared Sporting Evolution
For both Cara Gainer, a No. 129-ranked Englishwoman, and Gabriela Ruffels, a 71st-ranked Australian, golf was not their initial sporting aspiration. Each grew up with ambitions of becoming professional tennis players, reaching significant heights in their junior careers before making the switch to golf around age 14. This pivot has now placed them in a prime position to become an improbable major winner in their adopted sport.
Ascending the Leaderboard
On a glorious Saturday at Evian Resort Golf Club, Gainer delivered an impressive 7-under 64, propelling her to 11 under for the week. She was swiftly joined at the top by Ruffels, who carded a 66. This stellar third-round performance ensures both will play in the final group on Sunday, Dec. 14, setting the stage for a compelling showdown.
However, their lead is not without formidable company. The leaderboard is densely packed with high-caliber talent:
- No. 6-ranked Minjee Lee, fresh off her victory at the Women’s PGA Championship, shot 66 and stands just a stroke behind the co-leaders at 10 under. Lee is aiming to become the first woman since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture back-to-back major titles.
- No. 2-ranked Jeeno Thitikul (67), still seeking her first major win, is also tied at 10 under.
- Second-round leader Somi Lee (71) and Grace Kim (70) round out the group at 10 under, ensuring immense pressure on the leaders.
Wimbledon’s Enduring Influence
Adding a unique layer to their focus, both Gainer and Ruffels have closely followed the Wimbledon tennis championships taking place this week. They concluded their third rounds just before the start of the women’s singles final between Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek, a match they undoubtedly planned to watch.
Gainer, 29, shared her enduring connection to the sport. “Tennis was, I guess, my first love,” she reflected. Gainer first tried golf at 14 and quickly achieved a scratch handicap. “I do still really enjoy it. I don’t really play anymore but I love to watch it. Obviously Wimbledon is on this week so that’s my evening.”
The Road Less Traveled
Ruffels, 25, also boasts a deep tennis lineage. Her father, Ray Ruffels, was a professional tennis player who reached the Australian Open singles semifinals three times and competed in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open mixed doubles finals with Billie Jean King in 1978. Gabriela herself was Australia’s No. 1 junior player, winning numerous ITF junior events across Europe before transitioning to golf around age 14. She quickly found success, becoming the U.S. Women’s Amateur champion in 2019.
Before arriving in the French Alps for the Evian Championship, Ruffels made a stop at Wimbledon with her boyfriend, as a guest of retired Australian doubles great Todd Woodbridge. “It was such a cool experience,” Ruffels shared. “It was great to relax and not touch the clubs for a few days and get over jet lag. Seems to have worked this week.” This period of detachment from golf, ironically, may have been key to her strong performance.
The stage is set for a dramatic final round, with the two former tennis prodigies aiming to write an unexpected chapter in the history of women’s golf.
