Dual world champion Stephanie Gilmore retained her slender lead in the race for a third crown despite losing the final of the Movistar Peru Classic to Sofia Mulanovich.
Mulanovich, who suffered a horrific wipeout on Saturday, was a standout in a hard-fought final, muscling through one section after another on her backhand to post an impressive 15.00 out of a possible 20.
The lead seesawed back and forth throughout before Mulanovich edged out the 21-year-old Australian.
Gilmore said she was pleased with her performance although was disappointed to miss out on making it three consecutive wins in Peru.
"Definitely been pretty consistent with making finals," Gilmore said. "Obviously I was looking for another win. But in a way, it is pretty special to see Sofia win, like, it is crazy."
"There are thousands of people on the beach here in the middle of nowhere, it is just phenomenal. To make another final felt good. I had a lot of fun."
Gilmore now heads to Hawaii later this month as she seeks to extend her advantage in the race for the ASP world title.
"The world title is in your head sometimes," Gilmore said. "It is just event by event. This event was a good one as everyone was surfing so good and so after a fifth in Portugal, I wanted to come here and perform really well and I put my mind to it and I did it, the title race is hot."
For Mulanovich, the win boosts her to third on the 2009 ratings.
"I haven't had the best season and I was really waiting for a breakout result," Mulanovich said. "To finally get it at home is really special. I am just so stoked."
Dream Tour rookie, Australian 18-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons, matched her best result of the year with an equal third as she bowed out in the semis to Mulanovich.
Gilmore earlier defeated Hawaiian Coco Ho in their semi-final.
The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women's World Tour is the Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii from November 24 through December 6.