Clean and pulsing 3-to-4 foot (1.2-1.5 metre) waves rolled through the Uluwatu line up, offering up tubes and perfect walls for the world’s best surfers. 

After an equal 13th place finish at the Corona Bali Protected last week, Owen Wright, from Culburra Beach, was eager to push deep into the draw at the Uluwatu CT but before he could do so would have to overcome Keanu Asing (Hawaii) in heat one in round three.

Known for his pinpoint backhand Asing was always going to be tough to beat and he posted the first solid score of the heat.

Needing a solid number to retain the lead, Wright scooped into a solid set wave and got barrelled all the way down the line to clinch the win.

“It’s great to be here competing in paradise,” Wright said.

“I’ve got a lot of great memories surfing here as a kid on family holidays.

“Plus I competed here for a CT 10 years ago.

What makes this place incredible is how many surfers it can support at one time, along this thin stretch of coastline there are so many waves.

“I love it here – it feels good to make that heat and I feel this event is going to change up the rankings a lot.”

Wright will now battle South Africa’s Jordy Smith in round four.

Wright’s younger brother Mikey will take on Hawaii’s John John Florence in heat 12 of round three, while sister Tyler will clash with United States’ Lakey Peterson in the quarter-finals.

Uluwatu CT Men’s round three results: 

Heat one: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.43 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 10.43  

Heat two: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.47 def. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 14.33  

Heat three: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.33 def. Michael February (ZAF) 7.26  

Heat four: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 14.77 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.93  

Heat five: Conner Coffin (USA) 14.77 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.16  

Heat six: Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.34 def. Kael Walsh (AUS) 7.27  

Heat seven: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.50 def. Jack Robinson (AUS) 4.20  

Heat eight: Connor O'Leary (AUS) 11.06 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.04  

Heat nine: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 13.00 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.37

Remaining Uluwatu CT Men’s round three match ups: 

Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)

Heat 11: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)

Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)

Uluwatu CT Women’s quarter-final match ups: 

Heat one: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)

Heat two: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

Heat three: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)

Heat four: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)