JBay Surfer Matt McGillivray Moves Into Championship Tour Qualification Position

Matt in action at Haleiwa

North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii – World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfer Matt McGillivray from Jeffreys Bay is primed to qualify for the elite World Surf League’s (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) for 2020 after placing third at the Hawaiian Pro 10,000 tournament on the weekend.

Third-placing surfer and Rip Curl teamrider McGillivray had the weight of qualification on his shoulders, as a win would have officially gained him his first year on the CT. But he surfed with casual confidence and found a barrel in the Final to lock in a 5.83, his high score of the heat.  The 22-year-old from Jeffrey’s Bay took on a veteran field in the Semifinals and eliminated two-time Hawaiian Pro winner Michel Bourez (PYF) and eleven-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) en route to the Final.

Stealthily stacking the results, McGillivray is in a strong position heading into the Vans World Cup, where his best result was a Quarterfinal finish in 2018.

With this result, McGillivray moves into the top ten on the QS at number 6, jumping eight slots up the rankings. The top 10 surfers qualify for the Championship Tour, if they have not already secured their place by re-qualifying on the CT.

Matt will be looking forward to the Vans World Cup Of Surfing at Sunset Beach. He is always a standout at this venue, and it will be the final event of the year for him to bank one more good result, and to secure his berth on the Championship Tour for next year.

Once his qualification has been made official, Matt will be joining fellow South African surfer Jordy Smith on the elite Championship Tour of Surfing.