2005 O'Neill SA Open of Surfing

A 2A Men's 1A Women's and 1A Pro Junior ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour event
Nahoon Reef, East London
Saturday and Sunday, May 28 & 29, 2005

Dylan Stone, Rosanne Hodge and Keegan Nel win titles at O'Neill SA Open in East London.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 May, 2005 : - - Dylan Stone of Port Elizabeth secured his maiden victory on the ASP Pro Surf Tour and pocketed a winner’s cheque R4000 when he won the Men's title at the O'Neill SA Open of Surfing in tough 6 to 8 foot Nahoon Reef surf in East London Sunday. Stone, who caught only two waves in the final, waited for 22 minutes before picking up a 9.5 ride and then backed this up with a second wave just two minutes before the end of the heat. 

Although big wave charger Richie Sills of Durban got off to a good start in the final, Stone's almost perfect ride relegated the Durban surfer to third spot behind Gavin Roberts of Scottburgh who sqeezed into second place.Fourth place went to Nahoon Reef local, Simon Fish.

Mike Frew, Zig Zag staffer, Zululand surfer and event commentator and Brad Mommsen of Scottburgh were joint fifth with Quintin Jones of Cape Town and Jethro Johnson of East London joint seventh. 

The Open Men's division of 2005 O'Neill SA Open produced plenty of upsets and numerous surprises. Newly crowned national champion Shane Thorne, who has made a habit of reaching finals in just about every contest he has surfed in this year, proved that there is no such thing as a sure bet when he was eliminated in Round Three while East London's defending SA Open Champion Royden Bryson, who was the pre contest favourite, went out before the semi finals. Matthew Kruger, another top rated PST campaigner who was expected to maintain his contest momentum at earlier PST events was another upset and will want to forget his third round exit at Nahoon Reef. 

In the Women's division the form book was followed and East London surfer Rosanne Hodge successfully defended her 2004 SA Open title beating national champion Tamarys de Maroussem of Durban into second place. Fellow East London surfer Nikita Robb was third and Michelle Hill of Cape St Francis came fourth. Stacey Guy of Melkbosstrand and Sarah Johnston of Warner Beach were joint fifth and Jessica Matthews and Bronwyn Coote of Durban were seventh. 

Keegan Nel of East London was a clear winner in the Pro Junior division and selecting two high scoring rides to dominate the results.Last years winner Josch Schmeltzer of Durban was second, ahead of fellow SA junior team surfer Clinton Gravett of East London. David Richards of Kommetjie, a finalist in 2004, maintained this again this year finishing fourth overall. The Beach brothers, Rory and Kyle were joint fifth in this division followed by seventh placed Lungani Memani of Port Alfred and Rudy Palmboom of the Bluff. 

The Zig Zag Blowing Up Award went to Richie Sills for his all round performance. 

The O'Neill SA Open of Surfing was a 2A rated Men's and 1A rated Women's and Pro Junior event on the 2005 ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour with R15000 in prizemoney on offer as well as ratings points towards on the 2005 PST.  

The event, which was the fifth for 2005,  was hosted by Border Surfriders Association. 

FULL RESULTS 

MEN
1. DYLAN STONE (PE)
2. GAVIN ROBERTS (SCOTTBURGH)
3. RICHIE SILLS (DBN)
4. SIMON FISH (EAST LONDON)
=5. MIKE FREW (DBN)
      BRAD MOMMSEN (SCOTTBURGH)
=7.JETHRO JOHNSON (EAST LONDON)
      QUINTIN JONES (CTN)

WOMEN

1. ROSANNE HODGE (EAST LONDON)
2. TAMARYS de MAROUSSEM (DBN)
3. NIKITA ROBB (EAST LONDON)
4. MICHELLE HILL (CAPE ST FRANCIS)
=5.STACEY GUY (MELKBOS)
     SARAH JOHNSTON (WARNER BEACH)
=7. JESSICA MATTHEWS (DBN)
     BRONWYN COOTE (DBN)

PRO JUNIOR BOYS
1. KEEGAN NEL (EAST LONDON)
2. JOSCH SCHMELTZER (DBN)
3. CLINTON GRAVETT (EAST LONDON)
4. DAVID RICHARDS (KOMMETJIE)
=5. RORY BEACH & KYLE BEACH (DBN)
=7. LUNGANI MEMANI (PORT ALFRED)
      RUDY PALMBOOM (BLUFF)

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Robin de Kock

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