Six Hawai'i surfers advanced to the third round of the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing men's contest yesterday.

The opening day of the contest was run in 6- to 8-foot waves at Sunset Beach. The first round and most of the second round were completed yesterday.

Jesse Merle-Jones, Dustin Barca, Daniel Jones, Derek Ho, Ola Eleogram and Nathan Carroll were the Hawai'i surfers advancing to the third round.

Merle-Jones, who is from Kaua'i, was one of the standouts of the day with a two-wave score of 16.66.

Carroll, who is from Sunset Beach, had a near-perfect score of 9.4 (out of 10) on his best wave of the second round.

Australia's Kieren Perrow was the high scorer for the day. He had the best single wave with a 9.83, and also the best two-wave total with 17.66.

The O'Neill World Cup of Surfing is the second event in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Kaua'i's Andy Irons won the first event, the Op Pro Hawai'i, on Tuesday. As one of the top seeds in this contest, Irons received a bye yesterday.

Among the Hawai'i surfers ousted were John Gomes, Tonino Benson, Mason Ho, Liam McNamara and John John Florence.

Florence, who is from Sunset Beach, is 14 and the youngest surfer in the contest. He was eliminated in the first round.

The World Cup of Surfing is also the final contest on the 2006 World Qualifying Series, so it is the last chance for surfers to try and earn spots on the 2007 World Championship Tour.

The Roxy Pro women's contest did not run heats yesterday.

Australian Layne Beachley can clinch her seventh women's world championship at Sunset Beach. She is currently ranked No. 1 on the women's World Championship Tour, and the Roxy Pro is the sixth of seven events on the tour.

Fellow Australians Melanie Redman-Carr and Chelsea Georgeson are ranked second and third, respectively.

Either the men's World Cup or women's Roxy Pro could run today if conditions are favorable. For status of the contests, call 596-7873 or visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.