The 18-year-old tour rookie defeated compatriots Amee Donohoe and Rebecca Woods to advance to round three, which is likely to be held later this week.

Surfing in small but contestable surf, Fitzgibbons scored waves of 7.50 and 6.17 to total 13.67, enough to edge out Donohoe (10.77) and Woods (8.30).

Yesterday's win was a small measure of revenge for Fitzgibbons after Woods knocked her out of the season-opening Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast.

"I was just concentrating on my own performance - Rebecca got some good waves and she's a great competitor so I'm sure she will make it through to round three," Fitzgibbons said.

Fitzgibbons was unsure who she would meet in her one-on-one round three heat. However, she would love to tackle semi-retired, seven-time world champion Layne Beachley, who recorded the highest first round score with 15.57.

"It would be great to go up against Layne given it is one of her last events, she has come down here for a bit of a send-off," Fitzgibbons said.

Fitzgibbons also shrugged off suggestions that she could experience nerves in round three - the same stage her tour debut ended last month.

"I got off to a nice start in the first round and it was really comfortable," she said.

Fitzgibbons also admitted she was starting to understand the differences between the pinnacle of women's surfing and the WQS, which she dominated last year.

"The season so far has been really fun, but there is definitely a big difference between being in the WQS and being on the ASP Women's World Tour," she said.

"It is great to be down here at Bells, it is one of my favourite spots to come so I am looking forward to finding a rhythm and having fun."

With swells expected to drop today, the event - the second stop on the eight-round World Tour - is expected to continue at the weekend.