Burness Leads Pro Surfing Field

South African Mike Burness, the sixth-ranked surfer in the world, will lead a talented field into today’s first round of the Stubbies Pro International Surfing Tournament at Oceanside Harbor, which starts at 7 a.m.

Burness, one of 48 surfers still remaining in the tournament, will surf against Oceanside’s Chuy Reyna today. Only 32 surfers will compete in today’s first round. The top 16 qualifiers received byes. The championship will be decided on Sunday.

In other matchups, 18th-seeded Mike Lambresi of Oceanside will face Oceanside’s Dan Smith. It will be Smith’s first appearance in a main event. Todd Martin of Encinitas will surf against 11th-seeded Dave Parmenter of Cambria. Carlsbad’s David Barr, the 30th seed, will face Australia’s Greg Anderson. Carlsbad’s Frank Madrid will make his main event debut against Mike Parsons of Laguna Beach.

Three local surfers who made it to round three of the trails but were eliminated were Paul Barr and Clete Hamilton of Carlsbad and Don Yarbrough of Encinitas.