Gerroa star Sally Fitzgibbons World Surf League title dream is over after the three time runner-up was eliminated by unheralded wildcard Brisa Hennessy in round two of the Maui Pro.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After heading into the final event of the season leading the tour, Fitzgibbons made a heart-breaking exit from the Hawaiian event on Wednesday morning AEDT.
Hennessy’s two wave score of 11.83 proved too much for Fitzgibbons to match as the South Coast talent managed just one wave in the heat, scoring 6.67.
Winning in Maui would have guaranteed Fitzgibbons here maiden World Title. She has finished runner-up on three occasions from 2010 to 2012.
Her early exit has opened the door for Culburra Beach gun Tyler Wright to defend the World Title that she claimed at the same event 12 months ago.
Wright coasted into round three after beating Tatiana Weston-Webb and Laura Enever in round one before marching onto the quarter-finals to eliminate Fitzgibbons from the title race.
Depending on a range of scenarios, Wright, Courtney Conlogue, Carissa Moore and Steph Gilmore can all now finish on top of the leaderboard.