BOTH Culburra Beach’s Tyler Wright and Gerroa’s Sally Fitzgibbons were knocked out earlier than expected at the Oi Rio Pro.
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The event, which was eventually won by Stephanie Gilmore, saw the two South Coast girls face-off in a thrilling round three match-up.
But Wright’s run for a third-straight Oi Rio Pro victory ended in heat one of round three, after she could only manage a combined two-wave score of 6.17.
This score saw her eliminated, as both Fitzgibbons (11.17) and Keely Andrew (9.64) performed better – meaning the two-time reigning world champion finished in equal ninth place, her second of 2018.
At this time last season, Wright held the world number one lead but is currently in seventh on the world rankings.
Following her round three victory, Fitzgibbons faced off against Gimore in quarter-final number one.
Despite leading early on, thanks to a 5.33 ride, Fitzgibbons eventually went down 13.06 to 10.00 to the eventual winner, seeing her finish equal fifth at the event.
This result leaves Fitzgibbons in equal 10th in the world rankings, on 15,305 points – with Gimore in first on 29,400.
Wright is on 15,660 points, heading into the next event – the Corona Bali Pro from May 27-June 9.
