SOUTH South Africa’s number one ranked surfer Greg Emslie earned himself an impressive, but nailbiting, win in his round seven heat at the Gunston 500 on Friday. With less than 15 seconds left on the clock, the East London natural footer, seeded 20th for the event, scratched his way onto an inside set in need of a 5,41 scoring ride to advance. Also advancing is three time world champion Tom Curren, ending the 1999 event for former Gunston winner Shane Powell and Glyndyn Ringrose. Current world number one and another former Gunston winner Mark Occhilupo had a nightmare return to Durban, getting called a paddling offence. South African professional Seth Hulley, who placed fourth. Simon Nicholson became the second South African to advance to round eight, when he held off 1996 World Junior Champ Ben Bourgois (USA) and Will Lewis (Aus). In the two-through, two-out format Nicholson had to be content for second place in the heat behind tattooed Hawaiian Conan Hayes.