Rookie Wins Body Glove Surfing Title

Making his pro debut, rookie Pat O’Connell of Laguna Niguel overwhelmed a field of veteran surfers to win the finals of the $40,000 Body Glove Memorial Surf Classic Monday at Imperial Beach Pier.

Carlsbad’s Sean Mattison finished second in this fourth stop on the 11-event Bud Pro Surfing Tour. Oceanside’s Mike Lambresi, three-time U.S. surfing champion, finished tied for fifth with Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach.

Jackie Fisher of Imperial Beach finished tied for seventh in the bodyboard division, won by Harry Antipala of Kauai, Hawaii. O’Connell won $5,875 for the victory, Mattison won $3,150 and Lambresi took home $1,150. The tour’s next San Diego stop will be in Oceanside, June 20-24.