SARAH Baum has started her world-tour qualification bid with a heat win at the US Open in California on Wednesday (AEST).
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The Newcastle-based surfer progressed to the second round of the opening Challenger Series event at Huntington Beach with a score of 9.87.
Baum's two best waves, 5.77 and 4.10, saw her finish in front of Pauline Ado (9.44), Holly Wawn (8.73) and Ellie Brooks (7.63).
She produced a two-turn combination with less than five minutes remaining in the heat, jumping from third to first.
Baum and Ado advance to the last 32 while Wawn and Brooks are eliminated.
The South African native now meets Keely Andrew, Teresa Bonvalot and Sawyer Lindblad.
Merewether's Philippa Anderson didn't hit the water on day two of competition, scheduled to take on Sophie McCulloch, Summer Macedo and Bettylou Sakura Johnson in the first round.
The four-part Challenger Series, with spots on next year's CT up for grabs, continues in Portugal, France and Hawaii between now and December.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
