American young gun Courtney Conlogue has her eye on the big three of women's surfing after claiming the tour event at Margaret River on Wednesday.
Conlogue claimed the third major win of her career by stopping the winning run of two-time world champion Carissa Moore at the Western Australia break.
Moore, the two-time defending event champion, was chasing a third win from as many events in 2015 but was undone by 22-year-old Californian Conlogue who scored 16.93 out of 20 to beat Moore's 13.13 in the final.
The result lifts Conlogue up into second on the world tour rankings behind Moore, and the American is hopeful it's just the beginning as she aims to join Moore and Australian duo Sally Fitzgibbons and Stephanie Gilmore as the sport's elite.
"I'm feeling really good and the hard work is starting to pay off," Conlogue said.
"I've put so many hours into trying to get into the top seeds and I want to try and crack open the top three.
"They are such amazing talents and you really have to be on point when you're competing against them."
Moore retains a healthy lead in the world rankings after the Australian swing of the tour, having won the season-opening Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast and at Bells Beach.
The Hawaiian was keeping things in perspective after her loss.
"The waves were really good today and Courtney did an amazing job," Moore said.
"She's such a hard worker and I couldn't be happier for her.
"It's been an amazing Australian leg for me but I'm very excited to get back home."
Fitzgibbons was the best of the Australians, going down to Moore in the semi-finals.
The three-time world championship runner-up was hopeful of using her Margaret River result to kickstart her season heading into next month's Rio Women's Pro, where she's the defending event champion.
"This result for me feels like I'm building momentum for next event," Fitzgibbons said.
"I'm disappointed, I would have liked to make it into the final and put myself in a better position.
"When you get pipped at the end of the heat like that you just have to re-group and use that anger and frustration to come out firing at the next week."
Defending world champion Gilmore remains a doubt for the Brazil event after injuring her knee during a free surf over the weekend.
The six-time world champion was set to have scans in Western Australia on Wednesday to determine the full extent of her injury and whether it would rule her out of the upcoming event, starting on May 11.
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