Moore tops at Gold Coast

Hawaii’s Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Gold Coast today in Queensland, Australia, capturing the opening event of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour season.

Moore, 18, edged 16-year-old Taylor Wright of Australia in a close final heat at Snapper Rocks, posting a 15.34 score to Wright’s 14.37. Moore won $15,000 for the title and sits atop the ASP standings with 10,000 points.

In the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Hawaii’s Dusty Payne faces off against reigning 10-time ASP world champ Kelly Slater in the quarterfinals today. Payne, 22, eliminated two-time world champ Mick Fanning on Sunday and won big in a fourth-round heat yesterday. Hawaii’s Fred Patacchia was eliminated in the third round.