Six-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore is two waves away from confirming her place in the final round of the WSL's Surf Ranch Pro.
Gilmore is in fourth place after four waves with a combination score of 16.26 in the first ever event to be held on artificial waves.
Gilmore has two waves remaining to cement her position in the second round with Hawaiian Carissa Moore, American title-rival Lakey Peterson and American youngster Caroline Marks.
Fellow Australian and world No.8 Sally Fitzgibbons is on 14.03 and needs an 8.23 on one her last two waves to progress.
Australian world No.9 Nikki Van Dijk is on 14.00 and needs an 8.27 to make the final round.
In the men's draw, Japan's Kanoa Igarashi leads on 15.73, with Kelly Slater second on 14.57 and American Griffin Colapinto on 14.54.
Cronulla's Conor O'Leary needs to better a 5.87 on his last righthander or a 7.77 on the lefthander to progress to the final round.
Joel Parkinson needs an 8.07 or above, while Matt Wilkinson needs a combination total of 10.91 and Ace Buchan is hunting for a combination of 11.11.
World No.3 Julian Wilson, world No.5 Wade Carmichael, world No.6 Owen Wright and his brother Mikey are due to surf later on Saturday.
Competitors must surf three lefthanders and three righthanders, with the combined total of their best left and best right counting as their final score. The top four women and top eight men will progress to the final round.
Share
