Merewether surfer Ryan Callinan has progressed to the round of 32 after a solid start in the opening heat of Bells on Monday.
Callinan (11.23) finished narrowly behind fellow Aussie Callum Robson (11.33), with only 0.10 points between them after the 30-minute contest.
Hawaiian Seth Moniz (6.73), currently ranked number five, was third and now faces the elimination round.
Goofy-footer Callinan, who had three waves, posted a score of 5.40 midway through the heat before sealing his position via a 5.83 with five minutes left on the clock.
Robson overtook Callinan with a heat-high 6.5 in the closing stages.
World Surf League commentators were impressed with Callinan's "timing".
Bells got underway around 11am on Monday after being kept on hold Sunday when the competition window opened.
Merewether duo Jackson Baker and Morgan Cibilic are drawn in heats eight and 12 respectively.
Baker meets John John Florence and Connor O'Leary. Cibilic is pitted against Ethan Ewing and Barron Mamiya.
It's the first time Bells has been held since 2019 with COVID causing chaos to the championship-tour schedule over the last two years.
