Big scores and big upsets on the opening day of the Volkswagen Cronulla Open.

CRONULLA BEACH, SYDNEY (Sunday, 8 November 2020): The Volkswagen Cronulla Open saw a day of giant scores and huge upsets as the opening day of competition kicked off with the first rounds of the men’s and women’s division.

Reigning NSW and Australian Champion and top seed Nic Squiers (Corrimal) suffered a shock first-round loss at the hands of fellow Scarborough Boardriders member Kalani Ball (Stanwell Park) and south coast surfer Harry Phillips (Broulee). Squiers showed moments of brilliance in the heat but was unable to secure the 5.45 required score to topple Phillips from the runner-up spot and progress through the heat alongside his boardriders brethren.

Lennix Smith (Barrack Point) and Joel Vaughan (Bateau Bay) went toe-to-toe in their round two exchange with both surfers nailing an exciting array of backside snaps that were rewarded with excellent scores (eight and above). As a result, both surfers were rewarded with first and second-place finishes and earned their spot straight into the third round.

Stu Kennedy (Lennox Head) showed why he was a former World Championship Tour surfer, earning his spot into the third round. Kennedy showed his heat intelligence as he notched up a decent 14.66 heat total to take the win.

Lily Macdonald (Freshwater), April Davey (Kirrawee), Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head) and Anne Dos Santos (Dee Why) all progressed through the opening round of the competition and sealed themselves spots into tomorrow’s seeded second round. All four surfers found a handful of punchy walls over the course their heats to earn the victories.

The elite two-day Australian Open of Surfing event will get underway from the Sunday, 8th – Monday, 9th November 2020 and bookend an exciting long weekend of surfing in the Sutherland Shire that will begin with the Volkswagen Tradies Surfmasters and Volkswagen Kombi Rally on Saturday, 7th November 2020.

The Volkswagen Cronulla Open is the first of six NSW based Australian Open of Surfing events.

The entirety of all surfing action will be broadcast via the Surfing NSW webpage and Facebook page.

The Volkswagen Cronulla Open will see a total $7000 prize purse, with $1500 going to the winner of the Men’s and Women’s divisions.

The 2020 Australian Open of Surfing events were created for Australia’s best surfers in iconic Australian surf locations.

The events will take place in the latter months of 2020 and provide professional and aspiring surfers with the opportunity to win prize money and gain momentum going into 2021.

The NSW leg of the 2020 Australian Open of Surfing will see events in:
Cronulla – 8th – 9th November, 2020
Port Macquarie – 14th – 15th November, 2020
Kiama – 22nd – 23rd November, 2020
Coffs Harbour – 29th – 30th November, 2020
Far South Coast – 5th – 6th December 2020
Northern Beaches – 13th – 14th December, 2020

All events will adhere to strict COVID-19 policies and regulations outlined by the NSW Government and council protocols.

The NSW leg of the 2020 Australian Open of Surfing Tour is proudly supported Destination Kiama, Coffs Harbour City Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council and Northern Beaches Council.