Alex Dive - Image ASP / Will H-S

The 2012 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series got under way this week with the first event being held in the Philippines and featuring three of New Zealand’s top junior surfers.

Alex Dive leads the way in the early stages of the eight day event moving through to the head-to-head round of 16 surfers.

Dive and Mitch Parkinson (AUS) left their fellow competitors in their wake in the first round, the pair battling it out for first and second.  Dive took the number one spot with a couple of clean tubes and nice carves.

"Pretty stoked to win that heat, I’ve had a few heats this year that didn’t go my way, so it’s great to start off with a win," Dive said. "It’s been small the last couple days, but it’s pumping out there now. It’s great to get barrelled with just 4 guys out.”

The second round saw another convincing performance by Dive – this time progressing alongside Australian Noa Deane scoring 14.90 to Deane’s 14.60.

Dive will be pitted against local surfer Alipayo Philmar in his head-to-head match up when he next competes.  Having placed 15^th overall on the 2011 ratings, Dive will be keen to make this first event of the season count as he enters the last year of his junior career.

Dive’s travelling companions did not fare so well with Ben Poulter (Rag) placing 25^th after eliminating Johnny Hicks (Gis) in the first round.

You can visit the Billabong Pro Junior website for live scores, photos and web clips of all the action.