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Sally Fitzgibbons through to second round of Gold Coast Pro

Jasper BruceNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

Aussie fan favourite Sally Fitzgibbons has bounced back from her brutal relegation from the World Surf League tour to advance to the second round at the Gold Coast Pro.

Elsewhere on day two, Tyler Wright continued her hot run of form in 2022 and India Robinson bowed out of the event early.

Fitzgibbons was the highest profile Aussie surfer to fall victim to the new mid-season cut, which came into effect after the Margaret River Pro and dramatically reduced the field on the championship tour.

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WSL SALLY FITZSGIBBONS GOLD COAST
Camera IconFitzgibbons in action on Sunday. NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker Credit: News Corp Australia

Fitzgibbons, along with fellow Aussie women Robinson, Molly Picklumn and Bronte Macaulay, has been consigned to the second-tier challenger tour, where she’ll compete for the chance to return to the championship tour next year.

At the tour’s Gold Coast Pro on Sunday, Fitzgibbons (12.56) finished second in her heat and advanced to the round of 32, narrowly pipped by American Kirra Pinkerton (12.70).

It’s been a rollercoaster of a week for Fitzgibbons — the Aussie copped a fin chop to the head while practicing at Snapper Rocks earlier in the week and needed stitches.

In the round of 32, she’ll come up against Zoe McDougall, Leticia Canales Bilbao and Luana Silva.

WSL SALLY FITZSGIBBONS GOLD COAST
Camera IconFitzgibbons is through to the next round. NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker Credit: News Corp Australia

Two-time world champion Wright, the most impressive Aussie on tour so far this year, blew the competition out of the water and finished almost four points higher than the surfer who placed second in her heat.

Recently crowned champion at Bells Beach, Wright survived the mid-season cut and is surfing at Snapper Rocks for fun.Veteran Steph Gilmore avoided the cut but has chosen to participate at the event as well.

Like Wright, she dominated her heat, the last of the day, and advanced to the round of 32.

Robinson wasn’t so lucky.

The 21-year-old found herself 0.3 points behind second-placed Peruvian Arena Rodriguez Vargas and was forced out of the event after her opening round heat.

Aussies Molly Picklum, Sierra Kerr, Nikki Van Dijk, Macy Callaghan and Kobie Enright have all advanced to the round of 32.

A handful of Aussies, most notably Margaret River Pro champion Isabella Nichols and Bronte Macaulay, have yet to suit up for the round of 64.

Originally published as Sally Fitzgibbons through to second round of Gold Coast Pro

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