04.16.01
ASPworldtour.com

Goofy-footer Neridah Falconer gives a commanding performance.

Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia (Easter Sunday, April 15, 2001) - Current world number 10 Neridah Falconer (Aus) today became the first goofy-footer in history to win the SunSmart Classic. Up against three other World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers, she took out Australia's only 6-Star World Qualifying Series (WQS) tournament by a commanding margin.

Perfect 4-6 foot (1.5-2m) conditions greeted competitors throughout the preliminary rounds this morning, but unfortunately a slight onshore wind arrived as the final four paddled out, messing up wave faces.

Current world number 12 Lynette MacKenzie (Aus), number eight Rochelle Ballard (Haw), and number six Heather Clark (SAfr) fought to find their share of open-faced Bells Beach walls, but in the end it was to no avail. Falconer, 29, dominated and left all her opponents in need of a combination of good rides.

"I feel pretty relieved as I've been coming here for so many years," said an emotional Falconer afterward. "I've made the final before and so many semis, it's a relief to finally win it. I always wanted to win Bells. Coming second and third before ... it's all too much. I'm so happy.

"I just tried to get my three waves, that's all you have to do," she explained. "There were some lulls and it changed a lot from how it was in the semis, with the tide and wind. I just tried to block everything else out and it all came through for me."

MacKenzie, 26, finished runner-up, but like Ballard and Clark, she couldn't find the waves necessary to take the coveted crown. Her performance in the quarterfinals remains the best of the tournament, however, as she amassed a total of 24.5 out of a possible 30 points.

"I'm feeling pretty happy," said MacKenzie. "A little bit disappointed I didn't get any good waves out there, but that's the way it goes. Just stoked to make the final after all these bloody years (laughs).

"It was a bit choppy and crumbly compared to earlier," she added. "I just couldn't get it together. I had fun out there this morning though, so that's the main thing. I'm feeling pretty focused and think it will be an exciting year."

Ballard, 30, picked off the largest wave of the final and was eager to finish better than her runner-up place in 2000, but lack of good rides plagued her final effort.

"It was really about trying to get the wave that stayed open so you could do some good turns on," reasoned Ballard. "I only got one of those and that wave was so big my board was skipping all over the place. I was just really stoked to be in the final. We've had great waves for the whole event. I'm stoked for Neridah. There was some good surfing throughout the entire event. I am a little disappointed for myself as I felt really good this contest, and I really, really, really wanted that Bell."

Hawaii's Megan Abubo gives it her best.

Clark, 29, surfed great leading up to the crucial match, but she had to laugh afterward, as the ocean just didn't help her cause.

"I had a good quarter and semifinal, and thought I was going to have a good time out in the final," she said. "But I didn't actually get one wave that I did one turn on (laughs). If I went for a turn I fell straight off. Neridah got all of the bombs. Lynette got a couple of inside ones and Rochelle had a few, but I was out of rhythm the whole time."

Current world number two and defending SunSmart Classic champion Megan Abubo (Haw) finished equal fifth. Despite a commanding win in her quarterfinal, the Hawaiian bowed out to Clark and Ballard in the second semifinal.

Current WQS leader and world number five Melanie Redman (Aus) also placed fifth. She looked set to reach her third consecutive WQS final of 2001, but was ultimately stopped by Falconer and MacKenzie in the first semi.

Not a day at the beach for Layne Beachley as her competitors took her out early on.

Current world and three-time SunSmart champion Layne Beachley (Aus) was a shock quarterfinal elimination today.

Official results of the SunSmart Classic Final Day
1st Neridah Falconer (Aus) 19.34
2nd Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 11.00
3rd Rochelle Ballard (Aus) 10.00
4th Heather Clark (SAfr) 4.75

Semifinals
SF1: Neridah Falconer (Aus) 21.61; Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 14.87; Melanie Redman (Aus) 12.43; Kate Skarratt (Aus) 10.97
SF2: Heather Clark (SAfr) 17.6; Rochelle Ballard (Haw) 13.7; Megan Abubo (Haw) 11.77; Jenny Boggis (Aus) 9.67

Quarterfinals
QF1: Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 24.5; Melanie Redman (Aus) 16.67; Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) 10.5; Tita Tavares (Brz) 6.0
QF2: Kate Skarratt (Aus) 18.07; Neridah Falconer (Aus) 14.1; Jacqueline Silva (Brz) 13.47; Layne Beachley (Aus) 8.53
QF3: Megan Abubo (Haw) 24.17; Rochelle Ballard (Haw) 23.53; Belinda Godfrey (Aus) 13.16; Amee Donohoe (Aus) 8.54
QF4: Heather Clark (SAfr) 23.34; Jenny Boggis (Aus) 12.53; Serena Brooke (Aus) 10.5; Patricia Lopes (Port) 10.36

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