Avery had to borrow Ruffels' clubs for the second round following a frightening midnight mix-up after an intruder tried to break in to her rental home near Milwaukee.
The 20-year-old former junior world champion was forced to hastily pack up all her gear in the middle of the night and book into a hotel.
Unfortunately, Avery's boyfriend was using the same type of travel bag and flew back to Los Angeles with her clubs on Friday morning (Saturday AEST).
In one of golf's wildest tales, the blunder left Avery needing to use Ruffels' clubs, and even the hat off the Australian's head.
Ruffels had missed the cut following her morning round before Avery proceeded to defy the odds and climb into contention at the year's second major.
With consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes, her fifth and sixth of the day after teeing off on No.10, Avery surged to three under for the championship.
She dropped a shot on her 12th hole but was only six strokes off the lead, tied for 20th at two under with Australian stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, when a storm forced the suspension of play.
Avery will return to the course, possibly with her own equipment, hunting down Japanese leader Mao Saigo when her boyfriend's mother flies back with her clubs on Saturday.
