YOUNG Cronulla rookie Connor O’Leary has shown a host of Australian big names how to win at the famous Pipe Masters.
One of the youngest surfers on tour at just 23, O’Leary is one of just three Aussies who have made it safely to the third round of the famous Hawaiian surf event.
In one of the worst starts to a contest by Australian surfers this year, former world champions Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson on Sunday joined a host of star Aussies surfing for survival at the Pipeline Masters.
CASUALTIES: Aussies struggle in Pipeline opener
Fanning and Parkinson, who O’Leary beat in their contest opener, are in good company in round two of the final event of the men’s world tour.
After four days of waiting for swell, officials managed to squeeze in the final three heats of the opening round in erratic conditions.
There was some good news with Central Coast surfer Ace Buchan and O’Leary winning their heats to advance directly into the third round of the event where they join Josh Kerr.
However Fanning and Parkinson will join the likes of Owen Wright, world title contender
Julian Wilson, Matt Wilkinson, Stu Kennedy, Bede Durbidge, Ethan Ewing and Jack Freestone in the elimination second round when competition resumes.
Wilson needs to beat local wildcard Benji Brand in the third heat of the elimination round to keep alive his faint hopes of winning the world title at the event.