A halved match between Gabriela Ruffels and Hira Naveed denied Australia a second qualifier as Stephanie Kyriacou advanced to the Round of 16 at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas.

Kyriacou’s halved match with American Auston Kim saw her go through three matches undefeated to top Group 5 and set up a knockout match against good friend A Lim Kim on Saturday at Shadow Creek.

Kyriacou is the only Australian to reach the knockout phase after Ruffels and Naveed effectively cancelled each other out in their Round 3 clash.

All four players in Group 3 had accrued a win and a loss across the first two rounds, meaning a win would ensure at least a playoff in hopes of advancing.

Carlota Ciganda defeated Lydia Ko 2 up for her second win and Naveed looked destined to join her when she led Ruffels 2 up through 15 holes.

Ruffels clawed one back with a birdie at the par-5 16th before both made bogey at the par-3 17th.

Leading 1 up, Naveed made par at the final hole but it was not enough as Ruffels made birdie to halve the match.

It meant both received a half point and finished a half point behind Ciganda.

There were no such issues for Kyriacou who fought back from an early deficit to finish square with Kim.

Three down through five holes, the Sydneysider fought back to be square at the turn. She trailed again after making bogey at the par-4 10th and only snuck in front once in the match after winning both the 13th and 14th holes.

Kim squared the match again by making par at the par-4 15th, the pair unable to be separated over the final three holes.

“I didn’t get off to a hot start, so that was a little bit stressful,” admitted the 24-year-old.

“It was quite early so I still had plenty of holes to go.

“The end was a little bit more nerve-wracking obviously because I kind of knew where I stood, and if I squared or won I would’ve got through to the round of 16.

“There was a little bit more pressure, but I just tried to hit good shots. Some of them didn’t come off, but I managed to get the job done.”