Alessa Quizon had a good excuse for skipping school yesterday.

She was busy winning $1,200 and a trip to Australia.

Quizon, who is an eighth-grader at Wai'anae Intermediate, won the girls division of the Billabong Junior Pro In Memory of Ronnie Burns contest yesterday at Sunset Beach.

"I don't really surf here that much, so I was surprised that I even made it to the final," Quizon said. "I was just trying to take my time and make sure I caught good waves and I guess it worked."

At 13, Quizon was the youngest competitor in the girls field. The contest was open to females age 20 and younger.

Quizon and runner-up Leila Hurst of Kaua'i will represent Hawai'i at the Billabong World Junior Championship in Australia in January.

Quizon set the tone early in yesterday's final, receiving a score of 8.75 (out of 10) for completing a series of precise carving maneuvers on a 3-foot wave. Minutes later, she received a score of 7.5 to give her an insurmountable lead.

"I was trying to sit deep so that the other girls wouldn't take waves from me and so I could get the best ones," she said.

Hurst, who is 14 and a home-schooled freshman, placed second with a two-wave score of 12.25.

"All I cared about was going to Australia, so I'm happy with second," said Hurst, who also received $600. "I got to go last year and it was the most fun contest ever."

Sage Erickson from California placed third, and Monica Byrne-Wickey of Maui was fourth.

Carissa Moore, the state's top-ranked scholastic female, did not enter.

The boys division is expected to run later this week.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.