Against fellow countrymen Ryan Callinan, the Culburra Beach Boardrider produced six scoring waves, with the best two being 6.07 and 6.00 - for a combined score of 12.07.

But his Merewether rival Callinan chalked up waves of 7.60 and 6.27, for a combined 13.87, to progress to the quarter-finals of the second event of the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT).

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"It feels a bit overwhelming," Callinan said.

"With all of my friends and family down here on the beach, every heat win [feels like] you're winning the final, which is exciting but I'm just trying to have fun while keeping it contained.

"Owen is one of my favourite surfers so to have a heat with him is nerve-racking but a challenge that excites me.

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"He's definitely one of my heroes."

Callinan will take on Angourie's Morgan Cibilic in the quarter-finals.

Wright's sister Tyler and brother Mikey, as well as Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons, were eliminated earlier in the week.

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