Jolene Smith Makes Women’s Semifinals in Stubbies Surfing

Jolene Smith of San Clemente advanced Saturday into today’s women’s semifinals in the fifth annual Stubbies Pro International Surfing Tournament.

Smith will face Australia’s Wendy Botha, defending world and two-time Stubbies champion, when the semifinals begin at 7 a.m. Florida’s Freida Zamba will surf against Kim Mearig of Carpinteria.

The defending world champion and No. 1 seeded surfer, Damien Hardman of Australia, advanced to the men’s semifinals, but two Orange County surfers were eliminated.

No. 25-seeded Simon Law of Australia defeated No. 20 Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach in a quarterfinal match, and Costa Mesa’s Richie Collins was beaten by fourth-seeded Tom Carroll of Australia in the round of 16.

Hardman beat No. 8 Martin Potter of England in one quarterfinal, and fifth-seeded Tom Curren of Santa Barbara beat Carroll.

Hardman and Curren will meet in one of today’s semifinals. Curren, seeking his third consecutive Stubbies victory, had won world titles in 1985 and ’86 before being dethroned last year by Hardman.

The other semifinal will feature No. 7 Glen Winton of Australia against Law. Winton took advantage of an interference call to win his quarterfinal against No. 2 Barton Lynch of Australia.

Finals are scheduled to begin at 11.