Baker continued his streak of round one wins on his rookie championship tour, while Callinan and Cibilic found form to easily progress with seconds.

The Margaret River Pro is the final event before the mid-season cut, which allows the top 22 to continue this year and guarantees their spots for 2023. The rest drop to the challenger series.

Baker, at No.21, was the only Merewether surfer inside the cut line before Margaret River and he improved his chances of staying there with a solid victory.

He earned an 8.0 for two sweeping turns and the finish with 10 minutes remaining in his heat. He backed it up with a 4.03, despite breaking his board on a heavy close-out, with under six minutes left to beat Barron Mamiya (10.77) and Matthew McGillivray (10.17).

"It's very open ocean out there and it's probably my first time surfing Margies over four foot," Baker said.

"I've been learning this whole trip, and to get an eight, putting in all the hard work out there and finding my spots, it worked well."

Callinan (33rd) and Cibilic (equal 28th) need big results to save their seasons and they responded. Callinan was explosive on his backhand, earning 13.37 from scores of 6.67 and 6.7, to lead Ezekiel Lau and Kelly Slater. Lau struck late with an 8.67 for a 15.0 total and the win. Slater (9.2) was last. Cibilic was second to Connor O'Leary (13.8) but his 12.9 relegated Caio Ibelli (9.24).

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