Brett Simpson earns wildcard for Hurley Pro

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Brett Simpson scored two victories Saturday.

He became one of eight surfers vying Sunday for the record $100,000 purse in the U.S. Open of Surfing men’s finals in Huntington Beach. He also earned the right to compete for a more lucrative opportunity, one with steeper competition.

Simpson secured the lone wildcard in the Hurley Pro Trials on Saturday to compete for a $340,000 purse in the upcoming Hurley Pro in Lower Trestles, San Clemente.

The week-long event scheduled to begin Sept. 13 determines the world champion. It is the only ASP World Tour event held in the U.S.

“Every event has its own trademark and Trestles is the place for high performance surfing in California,” Hurley’s Pat O’Connell, who was inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame on Friday, said in a statement. “Each year, the world’s best surfers come with a free surf mentality and the desire to make their mark on one of the most rippable waves in the world.”

Forty-five surfers and third wildcards compete in the event. Hurley, the title sponsor, named Rob Machado and Kai Barger the first two wildcards. The event Saturday was designed to determine the third.

Simpson scored 14.0 to edge Julian Wilson of Australia by 0.8.

-- Mario Aguirre