Gabriela Ruffels is building nicely towards the US Women's Open after logging her career-best finish on the LPGA Tour.

Ruffels featured on one of the most unusual leaderboards ever seen at the Cognizant Founders Cup on her way to a third-place finish.

At 9-under par, Ruffels (71) was 13 shots behind runner-up Madelene Sagstrom (69) who finished two shots back of Rose Zhang (66) at 24-under par.

“Kind of an up-and-down week,” was Ruffels’ summation after a round in which she had five birdies and four bogeys.

“That golf course is kind of like that. Other than Rose and Madelene, everyone was kind of under 10-under.

“There were a lot of bogeys out there and a lot of birdies as well. Just had to hang tough mentally, and I was proud of myself that I did that.”

With the US Women’s Open just two weeks away, Ruffels said it was a strong week in combining her play with her mental game.

“A few things with my swing that I'm working on, I feel like I'm making strides with that with my coach,” she added.

“Just mentally on a golf course like this, just trying to hang tough and just seeing where at that puts you.”

Ruffels was one of four Aussies to finish inside the top 20 at Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey, Minjee Lee arresting her recent form slump with a tie for seventh at a venue where she was victorious two years ago.

Results

LPGA Tour
Cognizant Founders Cup
Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton, New Jersey
1          Rose Zhang                  63-68-67-66—264       $US450,000
3          Gabriela Ruffels           69-72-67-71—279       $201,479
T7        Minjee Lee                   70-70-72-69—281       $69,492
T18      Hannah Green              69-71-72-71—283       $33,801
T18      Stephanie Kyriacou      66-79-66-72—283       $33,801
T35      Sarah Kemp                 69-72-74-71—286       $15,966
T35      Lydia Ko (NZ)                69-71-75-71—286       $15,966
T46      Grace Kim                    68-74-75-70—287       $11,784
MC       Robyn Choi                  72-75—147
MC       Karis Davidson             78-71—149
MC       Hira Naveed                 75-78—153

Ladies European Tour
Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF - Korea
New Korea Country Club, Korea
1          Hyo-Joo Kim                68-70-68—206 $US69,714.75
T27      Momoka Kobori (NZ)   76-71-74—221 $4,587.23
T45      Kirsten Rudgeley          75-74-75—224 $2,378.05

Epson Tour
Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic
TPC Scottsdale (Champions Cse), Scottsdale, Arizona
1          Ruixin Liu                     64-72-70-64—270       $US60,000
T17      Su Oh                          68-70-72-69—279       $5,302
T21      Fiona Xu (NZ)               70-69-70-71—280       $4,534
T26      Cassie Porter                67-73-75-66—281       $3,737
MC       Amelia Garvey (NZ)      76-69—145