BY EASTON STOCKFORD

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Siblings. Some love each other, some hate each other, and some don’t even talk to each other. What most siblings don’t do — team up for $100,000 high stakes golf tournaments and seize the moment when the lights are the brightest.

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While not a typical feat for brothers and sisters, that is exactly what Ryan Ruffels and Gabby Ruffels (46/41/87) of the Los Angeles Roses did in Tempe at the final round of the 2025 Grass League Championship at Grass Clippings with a final score of 21-under-par.

The brother-sister duo entered the league’s grand finale four shots off the lead, but it was evident that the two were going to be competing for the crown from the very beginning. The Ruffels put on one of the best nine-hole shows the Grass League has seen all season long, carding a remarkable eight birdies in their first nine holes, making the turn in a staggering 19 strokes.

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An electric leading half then spearheaded a 13-under-par final round that was enough for Ryan and Gabby to chase down the San Diego Munis’ day one leaders, Matt Ryan and Kevin Lucas (42/46/88), but it didn’t come without a fight.

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Ryan and Lucas continued their momentum from Friday night’s opening round, rattling off eight total birdies on Saturday. After a clutch birdie on the 17th, the Munis’ front runners stepped onto the final tee box in need of one more deuce to force a playoff.

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After hitting their tee shot to about eight feet, Ryan and Lucas were left with a tricky left-to-right swinger to send it to overtime. With the weight of an entire season on Lucas’s shoulders, the Munis’ last hope glided towards the hole before diving past the cup, as San Diego watched their California rivals erupt.

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While a devastating blow to the Munis, they are still heading home with some new hardware, becoming the first team to win the Grass League’s season-long points race thanks to the stellar performance from Ryan and Lucas.

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The LA Roses’ win at the GL Championship catapulted them into second place and had the Munis looking over their shoulder as they only fell short of the title by 300 points. The New York Blue Birds finished in third while the Michigan Auto Aces dropped from second to fourth.

Two of the tournaments’ bronze medal winners were Drew Stoltz and Drew Kittleson (46/43/89) of the Minnesota Muskies. Stoltz and Kittleson are one of the more familiar duos in the Grass League, finishing runner-up in two USGA 4-ball championships together. The duo’s ability to show out at center stage helped them climb the leaderboard with an 11-under-par closing round that featured four straight birdies to start.

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The other two third-place finishers were Phoenix United’s DJ Lantz and Cody Massa (44/45/89). United’s lowest scorers played lights out both days, picking each other up all around the course. Despite proving to be one of the steadier teams in the Grass League, their final round score of nine-under-par did not have enough firepower for a push to the top.

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The tournament’s second-highest climbers belonged to the New York Blue Birds — Redford Bobbitt and Sean O’Donnell (48/42/90). An opening round of six-under-par placed the pair in the middle of the field, but Bobbitt and O’Donnell caught fire on Saturday with a round of 12-under-par, landing them in a tie for fifth on the weekend at 18-under-par.

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Joining them in fifth were Torey Edwards and Stephen Hale (46/44/90) of the Hollywood Hitters and brothers Ryder and Hunter Epson (46/44/90) of the Dallas Horseman.

Following them, two of the more intriguing groups in the tournament finished in eighth place. PGA Tour Winner Charlie Beljan and Andrew Augustyniak (49/42/91) of the Scottsdale Strikers were joined by the Hollywood Hitters’ Colt Knost and Scott Harrington (47/44/91), who combined for 286 PGA Tour starts.

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Beljan and Augustyniak only birdied one of their first nine holes on Friday, but the Strikers were able to regroup wonderfully on Saturday. The two finished the red-hot streak with eight birdies on the back nine, coming into the clubhouse ablaze at 12-under on the night and 18-under on the weekend.

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Knost and Harrington struggled on Friday as well but were able to string together three straight birdies to close out the opening round, giving them a newfound sense of momentum for Saturday. The duo was able to piece together a more consistent outing during the final round, firing a ten-under-par score.

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The competition at the 2025 Grass League Championship had fans on the edge of their seats, bringing as much drama as expected, but the real story runs deeper. Grass League is truly one of a kind, bringing something to the game of golf that has never been seen before — an atmosphere where everyone can have a great time.

Although Ryan and Gabby took care of business in the end, it was far from a no-nonsense tournament for the two. The siblings were having the time of their lives on the course — dancing in between putts, cracking jokes before tee shots, and documenting it all for their followers to see. The pairings on course demeanor highlight exactly what makes Grass League so special — every single player competing is having fun.

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Fans are given that same opportunity not only through the elite golf being played all around them, but also live music and a uniquely immersive fan experience. Both Midland and BigXthaPlug proved to be smash hits at Grass Clippings, bringing people to the golf course who likely wouldn’t have been there otherwise.

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The league is not only planting its roots in the golfing world, but it is also growing the game, providing an experience that anyone can enjoy.

With the resounding triumph of the 2025 GL Championship, the Grass League’s second season has come to an end and has broken even more barriers. From a PGA Tour winner competing in Beljan to a sibling duo in the Ruffels winning it all, Grass League has certainly come a long way in a short amount of time — but it is just getting started.

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Grass League is set to return next spring, starting with the GL Draft on April 22-23, followed by the third annual Grass Clippings Open on April 25-26. As the sun sets on another season and a new one on the horizon, one truth is clear — Grass League is only beginning to show the world what it can be.