Kennedy a standout at Billabong Pro
Lennox Head surfer Stuart Kennedy may not have won the Billabong Pro Junior on the Sunshine Coast, but he sure made his presence felt.
Kennedy, 17, secured his best result in an Australasian Junior Series event.
He was a standout performer across the six-day event, defeating ratings leader Jayke Sharp and local star Blake Wilson (Alexandra Headland) on his way through to the semis.
Facing Angourie’s Laurie Towner in the semi-finals, Kennedy started strongly with a 7.50 before being forced to play catch-up after Towner notched up a 9.23 ride. The smooth-surfing natural footer fought valiantly to post a 7.00 followed by an 8.17 but it wasn’t enough to reel in his breakaway opponent, still left needing an 8.40.
“I’m really happy with that result. I would have loved to be in the final but well done to Laurie,” said Kennedy. “I just kept calm through the whole event, just concentrated on getting my scores in every heat and it worked out for me.”
“We don’t really get to surf many point breaks throughout the year so it was good to get Point Cartwright firing today.”
In the final, Maroochydore surfer Mitch Coleborn used local knowledge to full effect, defeating Towner in a decidedly one-sided affair to secure his second ever Pro Junior Series victory.
The stocky goofy footer led from the word go, an 8.00 and a 7.33 setting up a commanding lead for an emphatic win. Coleborn, 19, was simply untouchable on the final day, posting the highest wave and heat score of the event in his semi final, a 9.70 setting up a two-wave total of 17.53 out of 20.00.
