Staff WriterBy the time the Alpine sun dipped behind the peaks on Saturday, two women had climbed to the summit of the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship leaderboard—one from Oxfordshire, the other from Melbourne.
Cara Gainer and Gabriela Ruffels now share the lead at 11-under-par, heading into a final round that promises drama, history, and possibly a first-time Rolex winner.
Yes, the Amundi Evian Championship may be known for its postcard views and unpredictable bounces, but this weekend it’s served up a proper contest.
Let’s start with Gainer, a Ladies European Tour (LET) standout who’s playing in her first LPGA major and behaving as though she’s been here for a decade.
The 29-year-old fired a clinical 64 in her third round, vaulting from T18 into a tie at the top. She rolled in an eagle, six birdies, and just one bogey, going six-under in her last 12 holes like it was a weekend stroll.
“I had a great par save on the first and that settled me down,” Gainer said. “I was pretty nervous on the first tee this morning.
Playing with Celine [Boutier] as well, so home favourite, lots of big crowds out there. So I just tried to settle in. Then I rolled a few nice putts in the first five holes. Went from there.”
The numbers back her up—12 of 13 fairways hit, 15 greens in regulation, and just 28 putts. It’s also her first time leading (or co-leading) after a round on the LPGA Tour. A win here would make her the first LET member to hoist a major trophy since Georgia Hall at the 2018 Women’s Open—and only the third South African woman ever to win a major.
As for Ruffels, she’s not just riding the momentum of a solid season—she’s helping lead an Aussie assault.
After carding a third-round 66 with six birdies (and one early bogey), the 24-year-old finds herself sharing the spotlight and within reach of history.
“I’m not really surprised,” Ruffels said of the strong Aussie presence. “We’ve all been playing pretty well… it kind of goes to show what Golf Australia is doing and their program and even Karrie Webb and what she’s doing with her scholarship program.”
Indeed, Ruffels is one of three Australians in the top 10, joined by Minjee Lee and Grace Kim. If Ruffels wins, she’d be the second Aussie to claim the Amundi Evian Championship since it gained major status in 2013—and the fifth Aussie woman overall to win a major.
Meanwhile, Lee is lurking one shot back at -10 after a smooth 66. The two-time major winner knows this venue as well as any, and she’s eyeing more than just another trophy. If she takes the title, Lee would become the first back-to-back major winner since Inbee Park in 2013 and the only two-time Amundi Evian champion in its major era.
“Just being here over the years, you kind of know where the breaks are going,” Lee said. “Being in this position before… it’s just going to be nice to have that kind of experience under my belt.”
She’s not alone at -10. Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul is right there too, quietly putting together one of the steadiest weeks in the field. With rounds of 66, 67, and 67, she’s poised to claim the Rolex No. 1 spot—provided she wins and Nelly Korda continues to drift (she’s currently T44).
“Majors should be tough Sunday,” Thitikul said, sounding more like a seasoned campaigner than someone chasing her first major. “Tomorrow I know it’s going to be a lot of people who [are] chasing… so I trying to be that one, too, who trying to make lots of birdie out there.”
Grace Kim, also one back, has quietly carded the fewest bogeys in the field (just two). The last time she trailed by a shot heading into the final day? She won it—at the 2023 LOTTE Championship.
Then there’s Somi Lee, another at -10. While her putting was shaky on the front nine and her driving deserted her on the back, she still managed to shoot 71 and remains a threat.
She also leads the field in eagles and ranks T2 in fairways hit this week—traits that could pay off in a tight finish.
One to keep an eye on is England’s Lottie Woad, who sits at -6 (T19) after a third-round 70. The 20-year-old amateur now holds 19 points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway.
One more point—via a top-25 finish—and she earns the right to accept LPGA membership. She’ll have a big decision to make soon: turn pro immediately and play out the rest of 2025 with status, or defer until 2026. Either way, she’s now firmly on the radar.
With a Win…
- Cara Gainer would be eligible for LPGA membership and would become a Rolex First-Time Winner. She’d also join the ranks of South African major champions, alongside Sally Little and Ashleigh Buhai.
- Gabriela Ruffels would become the fifth Aussie woman to win a major and the second consecutive Australian to do so this season, following Minjee Lee’s triumph at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
So here we are—final-round Sunday at the Amundi Evian Championship, and the stage is set.
Expect birdies, bogeys, a fair share of bounces into thick rough, and a leaderboard tighter than a stubborn jar lid.
And in case you’ve forgotten, this is Evian. Anything can—and usually does—happen.
