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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 11, 2005

4 from Hawai'i earn pass to third round

Advertiser Staff

Australia's Nathan Hedge won his heat yesterday to advance directly to the third round of the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters. Sixteen surfers won their heats in 6-foot surf at Banzai Pipeline to advance to the third round. Third-two others will surf in elimination heats in the second round.

AARON CHANG | AP photo/ASP

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Four Hawai'i surfers won first-round heats yesterday, earning berths in the third round at the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters, the final contest of the Triple Crown of Surfing.

The 16 first-round winners in 6-foot surf at Banzai Pipeline included Hawai'i's Andy and Bruce Irons, Jamie O'Brien and Fred Patacchia. Australia's Jake Paterson, who is chasing Hawai'i's Pancho Sullivan for the Triple Crown title, also advanced to the third round. Thirty-two other surfers will compete in elimination heats in the second round.

Sullivan, who won the OP Pro, leads the Triple Crown with 3,988 points. He placed second in his heat yesterday and will surf in the second round.

Paterson, who won the O'Neill World Cup, is second (3,850). Mick Fanning of Australia, who was third in the Triple Crown standings (3,603), also will surf in the second round.

Damien Hobgood of Florida, surfing in Sullivan's heat, had the day's best score — 17.33 points for two rides.

Florida's Kelly Slater, who clinched his seventh world tour championship last month, was second yesterday to Australia's Danny Wills and will have to surf in the second round.

Other Hawai'i surfers who will be surfing in the second round are Kalani Chapman, Makua Rothman, Sunny Garcia, Dustin Barca and Kalani Robb.

For updates on surf conditions, call 596-7873.