Top Surfers Advance in Tournament

The top-seeded competitors advanced to the third round of the Stubbies Pro International Surfing Tournament Friday at the Oceanside Pier.

Included in today’s round of 16 will be two-time world champions Tom Curren of Santa Barbara and Tom Carroll of Australia. Curren and Carroll advanced by defeating Gary Green of Australia and Brian McNulty of San Clemente in the man-on-man competition.

Defending world champion and top-seeded Damien Hardman of Australia defeated Noah Budroe of Huntington Beach.

Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach, a newcomer to the circuit, defeated Gary Elkerton of Australia, and Costa Mesa’s Richie Collins, the top American in world rankings, defeated Hawaii’s Hans Hedemann. Sunny Garcia of Hawaii defeated Mike Parsons of Laguna Beach and Marty Thomas defeated fellow Hawaiian Derek Ho, the Assn. of Surfing Professionals tour leader.

Today’s round of 16 features Curren (the No. 5-seeded surfer) against Todd Holland (21) of Florida; Collins (20) against Carroll (4); Martin Potter (8) of England against Dave Parmenter (24) of Cayucos; Hardman (1) against Bryce Ellis (17) of Australia; Barton Lynch (2) of Australia against Robbie Bain (15) of Australia; Garcia (19) against Booth (unseeded) and Thomas (unseeded) against Simon Law (unseeded) of Australia.

In the women’s draw, defending world and Stubbies pro champion Wendy Botha, now of Australia, and three-time world champion Freida Zamba of Florida advanced.

Quarterfinal pairings feature: Jorja Smith of San Clemente against Kaye Llewelyn of Australia; Alisa Schwarzstein of Laguna Beach against Botha; Kim Mearig of Carpenteria against Michele Donoghoe of Australia, and Zamba against Jolene Smith of San Clemente.

The men’s round of 16 begins at 7 a.m. The women’s competition begins at 11 a.m., and the men’s quarterfinals begin at 2 p.m. Semifinals and finals are Sunday.