Seventeen greens in regulation and just 25 putts. That’s the formula Gabi Ruffels employed to produce a stunning 10-under 62 on day one of the Epson Tour’s Garden City Charity Classic in Kansas.

Out in one of the final groups of the day, Ruffels turned in four-under before unleashing a birdie barrage on her back nine – the front nine at Buffalo Dunes – to post 10-under, take a two-stroke lead and set a record low round for the tournament.

A winner already this season at the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic, a second win would all but guarantee the Victorian’s promotion to the LPGA Tour in 2024 and put her within one win of an automatic elevation.

"It's my best ever round, I'm pretty sure, and just felt really good out there," Ruffels said post-round.

"I was just trying to play the same way I always do. Stay aggressive, take advantage of the par 5s and those par 4s where you can get pretty close.

"Just play aggressive."

Ruffels currently sits in first place on the Epson Tour moneylist and was nothing short of spectacular in the opening round.

Her first birdie came at the par-4 11th and followed it up with birdies at 14, 15 and 17 to climb the leaderboard.

Ruffels added two further birdies immediately after the turn and then made four more in her final five holes to surge to the Round 1 lead.

With Ruffels leading the way, there are three Aussies inside the top 20 through 18 holes.

Playing on a limited category, Cassie Porter is tied for 20th courtesy of a round of three-under 69, level with Victorian Robyn Choi who had four birdies and a lone bogey.