Tavares wins wildcard into Billabong girls pro Brazil

ITACARÉ, Brazil (Sunday, August 20, 2006)– Former ASP Women’s World Tour surfer Maria Tita-Tavares (BRA) beat Sofia Mulanovich (PER) to win the five-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) division of the Billabong Girls Pro Brazil today.



Tavares was awarded US$1,700 and a wildcard into the main event – both welcome rewards considering that her failure to requalify for the elite-tour at the end of last year was largely due to financial difficulty in getting to ASP Women’s World Tour events, not her performance in them.



Sophia Mulanovich, who finished second-place at Itacaré today has drawn Julia Christian (USA) and Samantha Cornish (AUS) in round one; Tavares will meet ASP Women’s World Tour ratings leader Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) and Heather Clark (ZAF) in the first round.



Present swell forecasts indicate a pulse in swell for Tuesday and improving conditions on Wednesday.



UPCOMING ROUND ONE HEATS:


HEAT 1: Megan Abubo (HAW), Keala Kennelly (HAW), Jessi Miley Dyer (AUS)

HEAT 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Julia Christian (USA)

HEAT 3: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF), Maria Tita Tavares (BRA)

HEAT 4: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Trudy Todd (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

HEAT 5: Layne Beachley (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)

HEAT 6: Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA)