Deffenbaugh, Hulse Advance at Surfing Contest

Huntington Beach’s Jeff Deffenbaugh and San Juan Capistrano’s George Hulse turned in the highest-scoring rides Thursday in the third round of the $22,000 Nissan Open surfing competition at the Oceanside Pier.

Deffenbaugh and Hulse each scored a 32 out of a possible 40 while advancing to the main event first round, which begins at 8 a.m. today. Deffenbaugh will meet Huntington Beach’s Kirk Tice and Australia’s Todd Prestage, while Hulse will compete against Laguna Niguel’s Pat O’Connell and Australia’s Justin Cook.

Other county surfers advancing Thursday were San Clemente’s Jim Hogan and Chad Navarro, Newport Beach’s Darren Brilhart, Capistrano Beach’s Jason Senn, and Kasey Curtis of San Juan Capistrano.

Other surfers scheduled to compete today are San Clemente’s Shane Beschen and Newport Beach’s Richie Collins, who’s currently in second place on the world tour qualifying series.