Phillip Goold Wins ASP Grade-1 Fins Pro Junior

BELMAR, New Jersey (Sunday, September 13, 2009) – Phillip Goold (Virginia Beach, Virginia), 20, took out the inaugural Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-1 Fins Pro Junior at 16th and Ocean in Belmar, New Jersey today over fellow finalists Spencer Regan (Ventura, CA), 20, who was the runner up, Michael Dunphy (Virginia Beach, VA), 16, and San Clemente native Jeffrey Lukasik (San Clemente, CA), 20, in peaky two-foot surf.

All surfers competing at the only East Coast event on the 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series calendar were out to gain the valuable ratings points towards establishing themselves as a top seed on the regional series. The top three surfers at year’s end earn their right to battle for the title of ASP World Junior Champion in Narrabeen, Australia each January.

Goold, who was a standout in yesterday’s competition, continued his tear on the competition today, advancing through the Quarterfinals and Semifinals before convincingly claiming the Fins Pro Junior Title. The East Coster’s solid 13.66 heat total was claimed with impressive surfing on two New Jersey right-handers and his fellow finalists were unable to match his scores.

“The waves were smaller today than yesterday, but I was able to find two good rights that allowed me to do a few turns,” Goold said. “Luckily it ended up being enough for the win.”

Goold, who is an East Coast native, was thrilled to claim bragging rights at the ASP North America Pro Junior Series’ only East Coast event.

“It feels so good to win a contest, I haven’t won anything in a long time,” Goold said. “To win an East Coast event is great and this is the best result of my professional career. It’s the first time I’ve made an ASP Pro Junior Final, and I’m stoked to have won it.”

Goold is hoping the confidence built from today’s victory will carry over when he competes in the last event of the 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior season, the ASP Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior in Santa Cruz, California.

“I’m hoping this will help my confidence going to Santa Cruz,” Goold said. “It’s a tricky wave to surf, but I’ve been going there for three years now, so hopefully I can do well.”

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