Simmers and Hopkins advance to Cloud 9 quarterfinal clash
Caroline Marks and Gabriela Bryan were eliminated as the World Surf League Championship Tour held its first competition in the Philippines.
Caitlin Simmers and Yolanda Hopkins secured a quarterfinal meeting at Cloud 9 in Siargao, winning the opening two women’s heats as the World Surf League Championship Tour debuted in the Philippines.
World No. 6 Simmers defeated fellow American Caroline Marks with a total of 15.17. A barrel earned Simmers a 9.00, followed by a 6.17, while Marks finished with 9.00 from scores of 5.50 and 3.50. The defeat ended Marks’ mathematical chances of claiming a second world title.
Hopkins, ranked world No. 14, then eliminated world No. 3 Gabriela Bryan in four- to six-foot surf. Hopkins recorded scores of 5.27 and 4.83 for a 10.10 total, against Bryan’s 7.00 from 4.00 and 3.00.
Officials completed just those two women’s heats at the inaugural WSL Philippines Pro Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission while waiting for the next swell. Filipino wildcard entrants had yet to compete, including Marama Tokong, who was set to face Brazil’s Samuel Pupo.
