SURFING : For Deffenbaugh, It’s a Big Wednesday

Surfing in his first world championship tour event Wednesday, Huntington Beach’s Jeff Deffenbaugh proved he belongs.

One of the three men to qualify for the U.S. Open of Surfing through the Op Pro, Deffenbaugh faced third-rated Shane Powell of Australia and Fabio Gouveia, a national hero in Brazil. On the strength of eight waves, Deffenbaugh, 21, defeated them both and advanced to the third round. Powell and Gouveia moved to the second round, which begins the one-on-one, single-elimination format.

“I’ve got nothing to lose and all to gain here at Huntington Beach,” Deffenbaugh said. “They’re fighting for points and their spot in the world (ratings).”

A regular competitor on the world qualifying series, Deffenbaugh holds the 13th spot after the Op Pro. The year’s top 16 finishers qualify for the world championship tour.

Tom Curren, another wild-card entry, brought out a 5-foot 7-inch, squash-tail board, hoping to rekindle the excitement he caused in France last year when he won on a 1960s model. He finished third in the tightest heat of the day and will go back to a standard surfboard for the rest of the U.S. Open.

Although Curren won four Op Pros and three world titles in the 1980s, he has not competed in the United States in three years. “I was a bit nervous,” he said after his heat.

In women’s competition, Op Pro winner Freida Zamba won both her heats by a combined margin of 23.44. She is one of 16 remaining from the 48 entrants.

Surfing Notes

When the U.S. Open returns next year, the contest will be limited to 20 women. Graham Cassidy, executive director of the Assn. of Surfing Professionals, said he plans to give the women’s tour its own identity in 1995. . . . Today’s schedule: 6 a.m.-12:40 p.m., men’s surfing, round 2; 12:40-4 p.m., women’s surfing, round 2; 4-6:40 p.m., bodyboarding, round 2; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., U.S. Open Beach Expo; 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m. U.S. Open of Surfing/Surfrider fund-raiser at Hard Rock Cafe.