Jordy Lawler Delivers Wildcard Win, Isabella Nichols Goes Back-to-Back at Narrabeen

It’s funny how things can work out in ways you don’t expect. North Narrabeen local Jordy Lawler failed to qualify for the 2024 Challenger Series after missing the cut from the Qualifying Series. But he was given the wildcard into the GWM Sydney Surf Pro.

So with nothing to lose and a hometown crowd in his ear, Lawler flexed his local knowledge of the shifty lefthand sandbar, walking away with the biggest win of his career. In the final against Brazilian and former CT vet Alejo Muniz, Lawler looked at ease clicking off seamless snaps and fins-free reverses on his Timmy Patterson.

“Honestly, the last few months have been a real rollercoaster,” Lawler said in his post-event presser. “After not qualifying for the Challenger Series this year, I was honestly thinking about calling it quits, so I’m just stoked I stuck with it. I was pretty low there for a while, and I hadn’t had a good result for a while, so I’m just so stoked right now. To make it to the Championship Tour has been my goal for so long and to win an event of this size can really help with that, I just can’t believe it.”

In the women’s draw, Isabella Nichols held off an air-reversing Erin Brooks to take back-to-back Narrabeen victories. She had an impressive run on finals day, taking down Sally Fitzgibbons in the semis before facing Brooks in the final. The two are good friends and have been staying together in Australia during this CS leg. Brooks, who beat Nichols in the Snapper CS just a few weeks prior, had just bagged a 9.57 for a dizzying full rotation in her semi-final. But Nichols didn’t get ahead of herself and proceeded to consistently club the shoulder-high runners on the backhand. Brooks took an early lead, but Nichols scored a 7.5 and a 7.77. Brooks went to air in the trailing minutes needing a low 8, but came up short.

It’s been a whirlwind for Nichols, the 26-year-old from Coolum Beach in Queensland. This is her second consecutive time getting knocked from the CT after Margaret River and hitting the CS. 

“There’s a lot going through my mind right now,” Nichols said. “I came into this event feeling really positive and good about things, which has worked for me. Last year, I came into this event feeling super down, and that obviously worked for me, but it is nice to have less pressure and emotion being in the same position and still getting a result. It’s been so good being in such a good headspace compared to last year. It just shows, regardless of your headspace, if you go through the process, you can get it done.”

Let’s talk about the runner-ups, who sit at very different ends of their respective careers. Thanks to her Snapper W and this 2nd place finish, Brooks is now ranked first in the Challenger Series (with 17,800 points) with four events remaining. Based on last year’s qualification line (coincidentally, Nichols was the fifth-ranked surfer on the 2023 CS with 22,725 points), Brooks needs two more 9ths or one semifinal (6,085 points) to lock in her spot for the 2025 Championship Tour.

Meanwhile, Muniz is making a serious run to get back to the CT. With a 9th from snapper and a 2nd place in Sydney, the 34-year-old is now second on the men’s rankings. 

“I’m really happy to be here standing on this podium,” Muniz said. “I’ve been working so hard for so long to get back to the top level. I’ve been through two surgeries and have missed out on qualifying by a small amount twice, so to be back in the Finals means so much to me. When I left home, I promised my son I’d bring him home a trophy from one of the events in Australia, so daddy has kept his promise.”

Brooks, Muniz and the rest of the CS will have their next shot in July at Ballito in South Africa.