As the fifth leg on the prestigious Hurley NSW Championship Circuit, the Zink Surf South Coast Open saw the states best battling it out for precious ratings points and a $3500 prize purse.

However, it was King who was the last man standing with a powerful display.

“I’m so happy with my win here today,” King said after claiming the trophy.

In an all-star final which saw current ASP Australasian Pro Junior competitor’s Sam Wrench (Mollymook, NSW), the ever professional Nick Riley (Manly, NSW) battling it out with the flamboyant Ben Godwin (Forster, NSW), who finished second, third and fourth respectively, King was in a league of his own.

“The waves were super fun and the conditions really suited my backhand.”

The final was a seesawing affair, with King and Wrench exchanging blows in the opening stages.

But it was King with a series of vertical backhand blasts who was able to backup his good to take a stranglehold of the Final.

“Nick (Riley) and Sam (Wrench) were in great form all morning and Ben (Godwin) is always a threat, so I knew I had to get a good lead and then make sure I was in position for the higher scoring set waves later in the Final.”

King, who by his own admission has not has the best 2008 campaign competitively, will now use this win as a springboard into next year, where he will be taking on the world’s best on the gruelling ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS).

“The win is a huge confidence booster for me,” he said.

“I had a bad result at my last event so its great to get a win as I move into a full WQS campaign next year.”

With one event to go, the Hurley NSW Championship Circuit is still up for grabs with a logjam of talent sitting at the top at the ratings and will be decided at the Slimes Surf Classic at Avoca next month.

In an interesting twist, none of the top rated surfers on the Hurley NSW Championship Circuit coming into the event progressed past round two, with Joel Reading (Old Bar, NSW), Rhys Bombaci and Ty Watson (Currarong, NSW) all bowing out prematurely.

Bombaci has however moved into a lead position on the ratings with Reading slipping into second a mere 176 points in arrears.

Watson is now in third with Ben Godwin making a big leap into fourth position in front of Drew Courtney (Umina, NSW).

Competition will continue today at North Werri Beach with the Cadet Boys hitting the water at 8am.

For more information be sure to log onto www.surfingnsw.com.au

Hurley NSW Championship Circuit Ratings after Event #5 – Zink Surf South Coast Open
1st Rhys Bombaci (Kiama Downs, NSW) – 4088 points
2nd Joel Reading (Old Bar, NSW) – 3912 points
3rd Ty Watson (Currarong, NSW) – 3435 points
4th Ben Godwin (Forster, NSW) – 3293 points
5th Drew Courtney (Umina, NSW) – 3270 points

The Zink Surf South Coast Open is proudly presented by Zink Surf, Hurley, Kiama Tourism, Kiama Municipal Council, Kiama Coast Holiday Parks, Surfing NSW and Werri Beach Boardriders Club.

Hurley NSW Championship Circuit 2008 Schedule:

Saltwater Wine Surf Classic, 10-11 May 2008 at Old Bar
Dripping Wet Pro, 23-25 May 2008 at Freshwater Beach
Triple Bull Pro, 31 May-1 June 2008 at Cronulla
Wild Surf Co. Mattara, 13-14 September 2008 at Newcastle
Zink Surf South Coast Open, 11-12 October 2008 at Werri Beach
Slimes Surf Classic, 1-2 November 2008 at Avoca