The Australian pair both carded eagle threes on their way to four-under 68s, joining eight other players in a tie for 11th.
World No.18 Alison Lee shot a seven-under 65 to top the leaderboard after the first round.
Lee had a busy opening round that featured an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys at Blythefield Country Club, giving her a two-shot lead over a group of nine golfers tied for second at 67.
After an outward nine featuring a bogey, two birdies, and an eagle on the par-5 8th hole, Sydneysider Kim dropped one more shot before finishing with a flourish with successive birdies on the 17th and 18th.
Starting her round on the 10th hole, the 24-year-old Ruffels enjoyed a similar surge, gaining four shots between the 13th and 15th as she carded birdie-eagle-birdie.
“There can be some…
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