Birdie blitz thrusts Aussie Ruffels into LPGA title mix

Australian golfer Gabriela Ruffels has produced a late birdie blitz to vault into contention for a maiden LPGA Tour title at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open.

Ruffels birdied four of her last five holes in a second-round three-under-par 69 to be sitting tied fourth just two shots off the pace at the tournament's halfway mark.

Tour rookie Jenny Bae made it through an up-and-down stretch around the turn with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole for a second straight 69 to give her a one-shot lead at six under going into the weekend.

Miranda Wang of China had the best round of the week on the El Camaleon course at Mayakoba, running off seven birdies and keeping a clean card for a 65. That leaft Wang and Brianna Do (71) one shot behind.

Bae is trying to soak up the scenery and keep the stress to a minimum. That's about to pick up on the weekend as she goes after a LPGA victory.

"There is going to be some stress and pressure added to it, but I think as long as I keep my momentum and just try to stay positive on every shot and every hoe, I think I'll be OK," Bae said,

El Camaleon on Mayakoba is where the PGA Tour played from 2007 through 2024, and where the LIV Golf League played last year.

Do, among four players tied for the 18-hole lead, was the only player to reach eight under for the tournament until a bogey-double bogey finish on the front nine. She still was in position for her first win, one off the lead.

Jenny Shin, another of the co-leaders after Thursday, shot 72 and is two behind with Ruffels.

The other two who opened with 68, Chisato Iwai and Bianca Pagdanganan, each followed with a 74. Pagdanganan was slowed by a triple bogey on her 11th hole, the par-4 second.

Wang, meanwhile, found the right recipe for Mayakoba. For the Duke alum, Wang figured it was best to take care of the par 5s and some of the short par 4s and keep mistakes to a minimum. She birdied three of the four par 5s and kept mistakes completely off her card.

The tournament is the last one before the US Women's Open at Erin Hills, and the Mexico reflected that. Charley Hull is the highest-ranked player on the Yucatan Peninsula at No.15 in the world. She shot 75 and is nine shots behind.