Kirsten Rudgeley will take the positives from her performance at Webex Players Series Perth to fuel her Ladies European Tour campaign when it begins next month.

The 54-hole leader by two strokes going into the final round at Royal Fremantle Golf Club on Sunday, Rudgeley struggled to build any early momentum as challengers emerged from the groups behind.

When the West Australian made bogey at the par-3 third, she was in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with playing partner Haydn Barron, Jordan Doull and Queenslander Jake McLeod.

Doull would go on to win over Barron at the second playoff hole, Rudgeley left one stroke short of joining them at 17-under par.

A bogey by Doull at the 72nd hole – his first and only one for the day – opened the door for both Rudgeley and Barron.

The pair needed birdie at the final hole to equal Doull, Rudgeley’s task growing even tougher when her tee shot finished in the trees to the right of the fairway.

She had little choice but to punch out and try and get up-and-down from around 70 metres, her birdie try from 16 feet sliding by the hole as she finished with a round of 1-under 71 and share of third with Gold Coaster Anthony Quayle (68).

Given a limited preparation over the Christmas break, Rudgeley believes it is a strong foundation for the season ahead.

“I didn’t play my best golf today and the score showed,” said Rudgeley.

“I enjoy playing with the men. It’s good fun. I mean, probably wasn’t how I wanted it to finish, but that’s golf.”

With big years awaiting them in America, Perth also provided a good foundation for Robyn Choi and Cassie Porter.

Choi’s 3-under 69 was her fourth sub-70 score for the week to finish in a tie for eighth as Porter closed with 68 for a share of 13th ahead of her debut season on the LPGA Tour.

Next up on the 2025 schedule for the WPGA Tour of Australasia is the two-day Drummond Golf Melbourne International at Latrobe Golf Club starting Wednesday.

Photo: Cassandra Edwards/PGA of Australia