Hawai'i surfers Megan Abubo, Rochelle Ballard, Melanie Bartels and Keala Kennelly advanced to the quarterfinals of the Roxy Pro women's contest yesterday.

The first and second rounds of the event were completed in 4- to 6-foot waves at Sunset Beach.

Bartels got into the main event heats in the afternoon by advancing through two trials heats in the morning. In her first-round heat of the main event, she received scores of 8.83 and 8.6 for her two best waves. Her total score of 17.43 was the second-best of the day.

Australia's Stephanie Gilmore was the top performer of the day with a two-wave score of 18.1, which included a near-perfect ride of 9.6 (out of 10).

Bartels and Gilmore were the top surfers in the trials heats, so they received the two available wildcard spots in the main event.

The other three Hawai'i surfers — Abubo, Ballard and Kennelly — kept alive their chances of requalifying for the 2007 World Championship Tour by advancing yesterday.

Abubo is currently ranked No. 9, Ballard is No. 13 and Kennelly No. 14. The top 10 surfers at the end of the year requalify for the WCT.

The Roxy Pro is the seventh of eight events on the women's WCT.

The 2006 women's world championship also remained up for grabs yesterday as all three contenders advanced.

No. 1 Layne Beachley, No. 2 Melanie Redman-Carr and No. 3 Chelsea Georgeson all advanced to the quarterfinals. All three are from Australia.

Beachley is the only surfer who can clinch the world title at Sunset Beach. If not, the title will be decided during the final contest, the Billabong Pro Maui at Honolua Bay, Maui.

The Roxy Pro is also the second event in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing for women. Peru's Sofia Mulanovich won the first event at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach last week. She advanced to the quarterfinals yesterday.

Also yesterday, five heats of the second round of the men's O'Neill World Cup of Surfing were completed.

Hawai'i surfers Hank Gaskell, Sean Moody and Myles Padaca won their respective heats.

Conditions permitting, the women's and men's events will continue today. For status of the contests, call 596-7873 or visit http://triplecrownofsurfing.com.