Kennelly Extends Stay by Winning U.S. Open

Hawaiian Keala Kennelly held off an Australian field to win the women’s title in the Panasonic Shockwave U.S. Open of surfing at Huntington Beach Saturday.

Kennelly, the only finalist who is not a World Championship Tour surfer, also won a berth in next week’s Gotcha Pro.

Kennelly, who called her victory Saturday the biggest of her career, got off to an early lead, and held on through the 30-minute heat.

Kennelly, who won $5,000, finished the heat with 16.75 points, defeatingSerena Brooke (16.50).

“I had a horrible semifinal heat,” Kennelly said. “So I was determined to do better in the final. I wanted to get the lead immediately and put the pressure on them.”

Brooke never considered Kennelly a dark horse.

“There’s no way I’d call this an upset,” Brooke said. “She’s beat me sometimes and I’ve beat her. So to say she was an underdog is not correct.”

Melanie Redman was third and Lynette Mackenzie was fourth.

In the longboard finals, world champion Joel Tudor of Del Mar won his fourth U.S. Open title at Huntington Beach.

Tudor said he loves Huntington Beach and considers this event one of the best on the tour.

“HB is the best. Hey, it’s surf city,” said Tudor, who had 28 points. “I don’t care what they want to say about Huntington Beach, this is the best place to have a contest.”

Tudor surfed the final without a leash but never lost his board in the surf.

“When you’re walking up and down the board, turning around or whatever, you can get wrapped up in [a leash],” he said. “Besides, it adds a little drama.”

Local longboarder Josh Mohr finished second with 23 points.

“Two years ago I finished second behind Joel, so what’s new,” said Mohr of Huntington Beach. “But seriously, we have a great time out there. I mean, if it’s not fun, why do it?”

Isreael Paskowitz of San Clemente finished third and Josh Baxter, also of San Clemente, was fourth.

In the third round of men’s surfing, Seal Beach’s Ryan Simmons continued his bid to gain a wild-card spot for next week’s Gotcha Pro, winning his heat to advance.

“It’s going to come down to the wire,” said Simmons, referring to his wild-card chances. “The guys that are left. . . .anyone could win. The [quarterfinal round] will be crucial.”

In past years, there would generally be four wild-card spots open. But this year, world champion Kelly Slater, Tom Curren and Kaipo Jaquias have taken three of the four.

Besides Simmons, Ben Bourgeois of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., Neco Padaratz of Brazil and Damien Hobgood of Satellite Beach, Fla., are still alive as wild-card candidates.

Pat O’Connell was able to pull off an late move in his heat to take second to advance to the quarterfinals. O’Connell, who had problems with his new board Friday, also had board problems on Saturday.

“I’m still trying to break that board in,” O’Connell said. “You got to have confidence in your board. It’s like having a good friend under your feet.”

O’Connell said he wants to get some momentum going into next week.

“Right now I’m 15th on the WCT. I finished 11th last year, so my goal this year is to break into the top 10,” said O’Connell.

O’Connell will be surfing against Bourgeois, Ross Williams of Hawaii and Rosa Peterson of Brazil today in the quarterfinals.

Notes

Mark Occhilupo, who missed his heat Friday in the second round of the men’s competition, was in Australia, according to Graham Stapelberg of Billabong, which is Occhilupo’s sponsor. “It was just a misunderstanding,” said Stapelberg. “He’ll be here probably on Monday for the Gotcha Pro.”

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Surfing

* What: U.S. Open

* When: Today

* Where: South side of Huntington Beach Pier, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street

* Basics: Many of the world’s top professionals will be among those vying for $160,000 in cash and prizes. The competition features men’s, women’s and junior’s surfing, bodyboarding and longboarding.

* Today’s schedule: 8-9:20 a.m.--juniors quarterfinals; 9:20-10:40 a.m.--men’s quarterfinals; 10:40-11:20 a.m.--juniors semifinals; 11:20 a.m.-noon--bodyboarding semifinals; noon-12:40 p.m.--men’s semifinals; 12:40-1:10 p.m.--bodyboarding finals; 1:40-2:10 p.m.--juniors finals; 2:10-2:40 p.m.--men’s finals.

* Other activities: There will be an outdoor festival and exhibit that will include board-shaping demonstrations, surf-related products and displays and other beach activities.

* Admission: Free.

* Parking: Available at the city parking structure one block in from Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

* Web site:

https://www.gotcha.com