Myles Padaca of Sunset Beach won the Da Hui/Sponsor Me Sunset Open men's surfing contest today.

The final day of the two-day event was run in wave=face heights of 15- to 20-feet at Sunset Beach.

Padaca, 38, relied on his experience at Sunset Beach to prevail in the 30-minute final. He caught seven waves in the final, while none of the other three finalists caught more than three waves.

"Experience is huge here, I think it really shows in the older guys," Padaca said. "I think the young guys are definitely taking notes from us."

One of those taking notes was runner-up Alex Smith of Kaua‘i. Smith, 19, recently completed training sessions at Sunset Beach with Padaca.

Padaca finished with a two-wave score of 11.5 to edge Smith's two-wave scoreof 11.0. Only the top two waves for each surfer count toward the final score.

Padaca received $2,500 for the victory. Smith received $1,000.

Jonah Morgan of the Big Island was third, and Billy Kemper of Maui was fourth.

The contest was the first event of the 2010 ASP Hawaiçi season. The next event — the Volcom Pipeline Pro — is scheduled to start next week at the Banzai Pipeline.

The top surfers at the end of the 2010 ASP Hawaiçi season will earn spots in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.