Myles Padaca of Sunset Beach won the Da Hui/Sponsor Me Sunset Open men's surfing contest today.

The final day of the two-day event was run in wave=face heights of 15- to 20-feet at Sunset Beach.

Padaca, 38, relied on his experience at Sunset Beach to prevail in the 30-minute final. He caught seven waves in the final, while none of the other three finalists caught more than three waves.

"Experience is huge here, I think it really shows in the older guys," Padaca said. "I think the young guys are definitely taking notes from us."

One of those taking notes was runner-up Alex Smith of Kaua�i. Smith, 19, recently completed training sessions at Sunset Beach with Padaca.

Padaca finished with a two-wave score of 11.5 to edge Smith's two-wave scoreof 11.0. Only the top two waves for each surfer count toward the final score.

Padaca received $2,500 for the victory. Smith received $1,000.

Jonah Morgan of the Big Island was third, and Billy Kemper of Maui was fourth.

The contest was the first event of the 2010 ASP Hawai�i season. The next event � the Volcom Pipeline Pro � is scheduled to start next week at the Banzai Pipeline.

The top surfers at the end of the 2010 ASP Hawai�i season will earn spots in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.