News Tour Challenge

PARADISE, N.L. — Niklas Edin of Sweden is still in the hunt for a playoff spot at the Tour Challenge after picking up a 7-6 win over Charlottetown’s Adam Casey during Friday’s morning draw.

The reigning world champion Edin trailed 5-4 and made a delicate draw to count three in the sixth end to pull ahead. Casey missed the mark with his last shot in seven to only get one and lost the hammer coming home. Edin made one of his trademark double takeouts with his last rock in eight to secure his first victory of the event. Casey, with a 1-3 record, has been eliminated from playoff contention. 

“It was a tough game,” Edin said. “I think both teams really struggled to find draw weight and how to throw the rocks. There was so much frost out there but I think we handled it pretty good. When we got the chances we took them, which we hadn’t done in the first two games. I hope we can keep that up for the last game and if so maybe we have a chance.”

Edin (1-2) has one more game to go against local favourite Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., in Draw 12 (4 p.m. NT).

“It’s going to be fun,” Edin said. “It’s fun to play a game where the crowd is involved. I just think the ice is going to be really difficult to master but it’s tricky for the other team too so we’re going to try and do as good as we can.” 

Meanwhile, American John Shuster (1-2) is still in contention with a 5-1 victory in six ends over John Epping of Toronto. Epping has been eliminated with a 1-3 record.

In the women’s division, Edmonton’s Kelsey Rocque (3-1) has qualified in her first career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event with a 6-4 win against Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher (1-2). 

South Korea’s EunJung Kim (2-1) earned a 9-5 victory over Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni (2-2) to also stay in the mix.