ISLE FILE
Irons, Sullivan surf on in Tahiti
Advertiser Staff
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Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons and Pancho Sullivan won their first-round heats yesterday in the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
The opening day of the prestigious contest was run in picturesque 4- to 6-foot waves at Teahupoo, Tahiti. The first round and half of the second round were completed.
Irons won his heat by catching a wave in the final 20 seconds.
"I needed a score, like a 3.0, and I got a 4.5," he said. "It was a stressful heat but it was one of those heats that comes down to the countdown and you're really into it. It's always nice when you win it. If I didn't win that heat when I had the chance, it would have haunted me all year."
Sullivan defeated defending world champion Mick Fanning of Australia in the first round.
As first-round winners, Irons and Sullivan advanced directly to the third round.
Jamie O'Brien of O'ahu's North Shore was eliminated in a second-round showdown with Kelly Slater of Florida. Slater's two best waves scored 18.7 points to O'Brien's 13.9.
"Jamie is a great surfer and one of the best tube riders of all time, so I knew it was going to be a tough heat," said Slater, who is ranked No. 1 on the 2008 tour.
Hawai'i surfers Bruce Irons, Fred Patacchia Jr. and Roy Powers have yet to complete their second-round heats.
The contest is the third stop on the 2008 World Championship Tour. The Billabong Pro Tahiti contest is held in high regard because of the treacherous waves at Teahupoo.
TENNIS
LAM LOSES IN SINGLES, ADVANCES IN DOUBLES
Sixth-seeded Chris Lam, from Honolulu, lost his first-round match Monday at the $10,000 Harbour Island Futures in Tampa, Fla. Lam won the first set against American Sekou Bangoura, 7-5, but began cramping midway through the second. Bangoura won the final two sets, 7-5, 6-2.
Lam recovered in time to win his doubles match with partner Matthew Roberts, 6-4, 6-3, over Bangoura and Frank Carleton. Lam and Roberts play in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
