Christie still there for Round 5 of US Open

RICARDO Christie remains in the hunt for a top finish at the US Open of Surfing after advancing to Round 5 this morning (NZ time).

The Gisborne-Mahia surfer placed second in his Round 4 three-man heat at California’s Huntington Beach break.

Gold Coast-based Christie totalled 13.07 for his two best waves, including a heat-high-equalling 7.67. He backed it up with a 5.40 wave to comfortably move into the last 16.

The heat was won by Australian Stuart Kennedy with a 13.17 score while Brazilian Alejo Muniz was third with 11.73 and was eliminated from the 10,000-point Qualifying Series contest.

Kennedy is sitting 29th on the top-tier Championship Tour rankings.

Christie is vying for a top 10 place on the QS tour, which would secure him a spot in the 2018 CT.

He is 26th on the QS rankings but is certain to improve on that even if knocked out in Round 5 at Huntington Beach.

Christie faces fellow QS competitor Hiroto Ohhara of Japan in the two-man Round 5 heats.

Ohhara, 10th on the QS standings, won his Round 4 heat with a score of 13.80.