CULBURRA Beach's Beau Buckpitt kicked off his Australian Junior Surfing Titles assault with a strong performance in the opening round at Margaret River.
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The St Johns student produced waves of 5.25, 3.35, 6.25, 5.35, 1.00 and 1.00 - for a best two-wave score of 11.60.
But unfortunately, this score saw him finish fourth in the red-hot heat one - behind Queensland pair Oscar Berry (18.25) and Jack Graham (13.75), as well as West Australian George Simpson (13.10).
Related content: Buckpitt claims third at Yorke Peninsula's GromSearch event
To put it in perspective, his 11.60 score would have been enough for him to finish in the top two in two of the other five opening round heats - which would have sealed his automatic progression to round three.
Despite this, the Ulladulla Boardriders' dream is still alive, as he will face Victorian Spencer Kay, Tasmanian Milo Langford and fellow New South Welshmen Fin McLaren in heat two of the elimination round.
A top-two finish here will seal his progression to the third round.