Courtney back on surf tour
Umina surfer Drew Courtney has earned himself a place amongst the world's surfing elite for the second consecutive year as he prepares for this year's Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour.
Courtney will join two other Central Coast surfers in this year's tour - Adrian Buchan of Avoca and Matt Wilkinson of Copacabana.
This marks the first time in 20 years that three Central Coast surfers have competed alongside each other in the international competition.
Courtney and Buchan both finished in the top 27 in last year's tour and automatically requalify for this year's upcoming competition tour.
The first leg of the 2010 ASP World Tour will kick off on the Gold Coast from February 27.
Courtney was eliminated in the second round of the Billabong Pipe Masters in Hawaii late last month.
Courtney faced former three-times ASP world champion Andy Irons in the final leg of the year-long tour.
The Peninsula resident finished with a 9.74 to Irons' 18.40 score at the end of the round which was not enough to get him through to the next stage.
He finished the tour in a 27th place out of 46 competitors earning a total of 3242 points throughout the year and $92,300 in prize money.
Website, 6 Jan 2010
Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour