Aussie rookie beaten in Rio Pro surf final
Australia's Jack Freestone. (AFP)
Hawaii's John John Florence has notched up big scores in the final of the World Surf League tour's Rio Pro to beat rookie Australian Jack Freestone.
While Freestone's scores of 7.80 and 8.33 didn't measure up to Florence's 9.70 and 9.27, the second-place finish was a great achievement for the NSW 24-year-old, who had returned to the tour after a two-event break due to injury.
The result at Postinho on Thursday marks Freestone's highest career finish on the tour, and he said he was "very happy" with his performance.
"It was a long week and I just had to take it heat by heat. To come back from an injury and get second place is amazing, and I am over the moon."
Fellow Australian rookie Davey Cathels also sealed a career-high tour finish on Thursday, placing fifth after he was dispatched by reigning tour champion Adriano De Souza in the quarter-finals.
