Interstate pair claim Pro glory

Two Queensland surfers claimed championship titles at the inaugural Cape Naturaliste Pro in Yallingup at the weekend.

Burleigh Heads’ Liam O’Brien won the World Surf League’s qualifying series men’s division and Gold Coast’s Alyssa Lock won the women’s.

The competition wrapped up two consecutive WA Pro Surf Series events, after the Mandurah Pro was held the previous weekend.

On day one Yallingup surfers Felix Leaver, Zak Ogram, Jack Thomas and Josh Cattlin used their local knowledge to their advantage, winning their opening-round heats in style.

All four, as well as Margaret River’s Jacob Willcox were knocked out in the men’s semifinals.

O’Brien defeated Gold Coast’s Sheldon Simkus in the final, scoring a combined total of 14 to Simkus’ 11.85.

He proved he was a force to be reckoned with, moving up 16 places on the QS rankings to now sit in the top 100 for the first time.

Cowaramup’s Mia McCarthy defeated Yallingup-based Claire Bevilacqua in the semifinal and was thrilled to reach a QS final on home soil.

She finished as the highest placed WA surfer in the event, and claimed a career-best result.

Lock defeated McCarthy in the 30-minute women’s final, using her backhand turns to finish on a two-wave total of 11.75.

The next WSL QS event is the Pichilemu Women’s Pro in Chile from November 1-4.