Beachley placed second in the final of the Billabong Pro Maui, giving her enough points to surpass Kaua'i's Keala Kennelly for the world title.

No surfer, male or female, has ever won six consecutive titles.

"It's such an amazing achievement and something I'm still in complete disbelief over," said Beachley, 31. "Even though Kelly (Slater on the men's tour) won six, he didn't win them consecutively, so this is a new one for the record books."

Kennelly also made history, but not the way she wanted. She was eliminated in the semifinals, but became the first surfer from Hawai'i to win the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing women's title.

"The Triple Crown was the last of my thoughts," said Kennelly, 25. "It was all about the world title today. But at least I won something."

If Kennelly had finished ahead of or tied with Beachley, she would have won her first world championship.

Overshadowed in the world championship race was Australia's Samantha Cornish. She beat both Kennelly and Beachley to win the Billabong Pro Maui.

The final day of the contest was completed in barreling waves of 4 to 5 feet at Hono-lua Bay, Maui.

Cornish eliminated Kennelly in the semifinals, clinching the world title for Beachley. She then went on to edge Beachley, 15.3-15.0, in the final to win the $10,000 first prize. It was the first major victory of her career.

"Today was one of the best days of my life," Cornish said. "I got so many perfect barrels and had such a great time here."

In the semifinals, Cornish edged Kennelly, 14.0-13.95.

"If you were going to win the world title, you definitely had to earn it today," Kennelly said. "That heat with Sam was close. She got an early lead, and I came back strong at the end, but just didn't seem to get the scores."

Kennelly still finished the year ranked No. 2 for the best showing of her career.

Hawai'i surfers Rochelle Ballard and Megan Abubo were eliminated in the third round of the contest yesterday.

Kennelly, Abubo, Ballard and Melanie Bartels are the Hawai'i surfers qualified for the 2004 elite world tour.

The Billabong Pro Maui was the final event for both the 2003 women's World Championship Tour and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Kennelly was crowned Triple Crown champion as the best overall performer in the three Hawai'i events held over the last month. She is the first Hawai'i surfer to win that title since the women's Triple Crown was created in 1997.

Billabong Pro Maui

Final results

1, Samantha Cornish (Australia), $10,000. 2, Layne Beachley (Australia), $6,000. 3 (tie), Heather Clark (South Africa) and Keala Kennelly (Hawai'i), $4,000. 5 (tie), Pauline Menczer (Australia), Trudy Todd (Australia), Melanie Redman-Carr (Australia) and Chelsea Georgeson (Australia), $3,000.

2003 World Championship Tour

Final standings