McEwen on to A qualifier at Canadian Open with 8-3 win over Laycock

YORKTON, Sask. – Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen pulled away with a triple in the fifth end for an 8-3 win over Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock on Wednesday night in Draw 5 of the Canadian Open.

McEwen is now in the A qualifier match, with a win putting his rink in to the Canadian Open playoffs.

Also in Draw 5, Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher had triples in the first and fourth ends to crush Toronto’s John Epping 7-1. Calgary’s Kevin Koe stole one in the extra end to claim a 5-4 win over fellow Calgarian John Morris.

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In the B bracket, Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., defeated Scotland’s David Murdoch 5-3. Sweden’s Niklas Edin led his rink to a 7-6 win over Charlottetown’s Adam Casey.

Earlier in the day, Edmonton’s Val Sweeting scored two in the extra end to beat Silvana Tirinzoni 6-4 in Draw 4.

Sweeting also held off Allison Flaxey of Listowel, Ont., 7-6 in the day’s morning draw. She is now one win away from qualifying for the playoffs at the triple knockout tournament.

Flaxey, meanwhile, has dropped to the C bracket.

Also in the fourth draw, Winnipeg’s Kristy McDonald reached the A-side finals with a 7-2 win over Scotland’s Eve Muirhead in six ends.

On the B side of the women’s division, Edmonton’s Chelsea Carey scored two in the final end for a 7-6 victory over Flaxey.

Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher scored four in the seventh for an 8-4 win over Regina’s Chantelle Eberle.

In men’s A bracket action, Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., earned a 7-5 victory over Jim Cotter, from Kelowna/Vernon, B.C.