SYDNEY Feb 13 AAP - Australian stars Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons have progressed to the 5th round of the Australian Open of Surfing after solid performances in the fourth round.
Six-time world champion Gilmore topped her heat at Manly by 1.99 points but posted just the eighth best score of the day and will undoubtedly look to improve over the weekend.
The 27-year-old will take on former Junior World Champion Laura Enever on day five.
Fitzgibbons finished second in her group behind Hawaiian Alessa Quizon by just 0.37 points and faces a tough match-up Saturday against Malia Manuel.
Former Tour Champion Carissa Moore qualified second in her heat, as her 12.90 proved to be not enough to overtake American Sage Erickson.
Moore, who was tour champion in 2011 and 2013, will take on Australian Nikki van Dijk in the next round.
Tyler Wright also qualified second in her heat and will clash with fan favourite Coco Ho.
Ho posted the best score of the day with an impressive 16.00.
In the men's, Mick Fanning will face Mateia Hiquily in Round 5 after the three-time Tour Champion finished second in the fourth heat behind Jonathon Gonzalez.
Fanning, who finished second on the tour last season, missed out on topping the heat by just 0.10 points but remains in good stead to take out the event.
Wily Australian veteran Adrian Buchan top scored for the day with 17.60.
Buchan won his heat by 5.33 points, the largest margin of the day. Mitch Coleborn, who starred in the previous heat, crashed to an ignominious 10.80 and missed out on qualification for the next round.
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