OTTAWA – Kevin Koe stole a pair in an extra end for an 8-6 victory over Brad Jacobs in the morning draw at the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings.
Jacobs, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., had hammer in the 11th end but missed an open draw to the eight-foot.
“I threw it heavy,” he said. “I threw it wide and it sailed.”
Koe, from Calgary, improved to 2-0 while Jacobs fell to 1-1.
Jacobs appeared to have the game in hand after hitting a brilliant soft-weight tap for two in the ninth end and a 6-4 lead. But Koe answered with a deuce in the 10th and used his final shot to put the pressure on Jacobs.
“You’re trying to make him shoot really,” Koe said. “He never really missed all game so that was uncharacteristic for him but obviously a big break for us.”
RELATED: Cathy Overton-Clapham to be inducted into Canadian Curling Hall of Fame
It was the first loss for Jacobs at an Olympic Trials. He ran the table at the 2013 Trials in Winnipeg and went on to win gold at the 2014 Sochi Games.
In other early games, reigning Olympic women’s champion Jennifer Jones beat fellow Winnipeg skip Michelle Englot 8-5. After giving up a three-ender in the first end of their opening game, Jones was on the other end of a three-ender in the first end of draw three. Jones scored three in the first and a deuce in the fifth end. The game had no steals as Jones picked up a second straight victory to sit atop the women’s standings.
Julie Tippin of Woodstock, Ont., defeated Edmonton’s Val Sweeting 7-3. Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher topped Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 8-6.
In draw four on Sunday afternoon Mike McEwen kept his perfect record intact. After beating Reid Carruthers to open the bonspiel, McEwen earned a second straight victory by defeating John Morris 3-1 in a low scoring contest. McEwen stole a single point in the second end and added a deuce in the sixth end, and three points turned out to be enough for the win.
Another draw is scheduled for later on Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre where Jones will look to extend her unbeaten streak against 2009 Manitoba Mixed Champion Allison Flaxey. Chelsea Carey will be looking for a second straight victory as she faces Val Sweeting. Carruthers is in search of his first win against Koe and with Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone throwing the skip rocks, Steve Laycock will meet John Epping.
Round-robin play continues through Friday and the finals are set for Dec. 10.
RELATED: Manitoba curler sizing up competition with custom jersey company
Comments