Curren Gets to Surfing’s 2nd Round

Tom Curren of Santa Barbara, the defending world champion, advanced Friday to the second round of the main event at the Op Pro surfing championship at Huntington Beach.

Curren, surfing in 4- to 6-foot waves, defeated amateur Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach to set up today’s match with Brad Gerlach of Encinitas, who is ranked second behind Curren on the pro tour. Gerlach defeated Charlie Kuhn of Coco Beach, Fla.

Losers in the two-man main-event heats are eliminated from the event, which ends Sunday.

Defending champion Mark Occhiupo of Australia defeated Scott Daley of Santa Monica and will meet Mitch Thorson of Australia. Thorson defeated fellow countryman Cheyne Horan.

Mike Parsons of Laguna Beach also advanced by defeating Mike Ho of Hawaii and will meet Barton Lynch of Australia.