Cathels was in sensational form on this final day, scoring four excellent-to-outstanding 8 and 9-point rides on his way to demolishing his opponents through the Quarters, Semis and Final.
Final scores in the Final saw 18-year-old Cathels on a combined two-wave tally of 13.60 to Queensland's Mitch Crews (Currumbin) on 9:00.
"I came down simply hoping to win through a few heats and fine-tune myself for the ASP World Junior Titles and to win and score big today feels fantastic - I'll go into the World Titles fully ready to give it my best," Cathels said. "I have set an aim to win the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series this year so this is the perfect start, it's also the first Pro Junior win of my career which sort of gets the "monkey off my back" as I have had a number of Final and Semifinal results, but to win today feels good."
Mitch Crews' performance at this event brought high praise from friends and fellow competitors including Cathels.
The 19-year-old has battled a serious arthritis condition over the past six months and today's return to form for Crews was an emotional triumph in his battle to beat the condition.
"My surfing late last year on the Pro Junior Circuit really suffered and over the summer I've worked with a lot of doctors to remedy my condition and I'm just really pleased to get a result like this today," Crews said. "I won a Pro Junior two years ago and since then have not had great results, but today's result is fantastic for me and sets up my season to try and finish in the Top 5 on the season ratings."
Cathels strategy in the final was to surf the longer-peeling left breaking waves and it paid off superbly when he scored an excellent 8-point ride early to set up his maiden ASP victory.
Some feared Cathels might have peaked early when he scored an impressive 17.90 (out of a possible 20) which included a 9.40 ride in his massive Semifinal win over Jack Freestone (Gold Coast).
Crews survived a much closer Semifinal, defeating Coffs Harbour surfer Billy Keane in the final minute when he came from behind scoring a 5.9 ride to advance to the Final on his last ride.
Cathels now heads to his home in Sydney at North Narrabeen, ready to take on the world's best ASP Pro Junior surfers at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships which on Saturday.
Held at his home break at North Narrabeen Cathels is confident he can do well.
"It will be a big challenge," Cathels said. "There're some amazing surfers like Owen Wright and Brazil's Jadson Andre and some great Hawaiians but at my home break I'll take them on for sure. I'm looking forward to it!"
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