Sunset Beach's Coco Ho won the first ASP event of her career, taking the Rip Curl Women's Pro Search contest yesterday in Belgas, Portugal.

The 18-year-old Ho defeated 2005 ASP world champion Chelsea Hedges of Australia in the final to claim the $12,000 first-place check.

“;I knew Chelsea (Hedges) would be dangerous on the left after seeing her this morning getting those barrels,”; Ho said. “;This afternoon it turned into a more rippable wave and it was hard on the forehand, but I was lucky to get the waves I did.”;

Ho moved from fifth to third in the ASP Tour rankings with the win.