SOUTH Coast products Sally Fitzgibbons and Owen Wright have made perfect starts to their Corona Open J-Bay assaults, by both performing strongly in their respective opening round heats.
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Gerroa's Fitzgibbons, fresh of victory at the Oi Rio Pro, won her heat three with scores of 6.43 and 6.17 - for a combined total of 12.60.
This was enough for the former Kiama High School student to edge out Australia's Nikki Van Dijk (10.30) and South Africa's Bianca Buitendag (9.83) - seeing her move straight through to round three.
Culburra Beach's Wright also moved straight through to round three after finishing second in heat 11.
Wright's 12.00 saw him finish just behind France's Michel Bourez (12.24) but edging out countrymen Jack Freestone (11.86).
Owen's siblings Mikey and Tyler are both not competing in South Africa, with them dealing with respective back and chronic fatigue conditions.
Mikey has been replaced by Portugal's Frederico Morais.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
