Avoca’s Wade Carmichael has fallen short in the opening round at the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast.
He posted the highest score of the heat – an 8.93, but it wasn’t enough to defeat three time World Champion Mick Fanning.
Adrian Buchan will also have do it the hard way – finishing third behind Jeremy Flores and World Tour rookie Davey Cathels.
The news was better for Copacabana’s Matt Wilkinson, who downed Kelly Slater and Conner Coffin to advance to Round three.