News National

OSHAWA, Ont. — Tracy Fleury of Sudbury improved to a 1-1 record at the National after making the open draw to score the winning single in the extra end and defeat Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater 6-5 in an all-Ontario matchup Wednesday night.

Fleury stole singles in the sixth and seventh ends to go up 5-3 and Middaugh clawed back with a deuce in eight to tie it and force the extra frame. 

It was the first game of the tournament for Team Middaugh, who missed the opening draw when they were involved in a car accident on their way to the tournament.

Elsewhere in Draw 5 action, Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton also climbed to a 1-1 record with a 7-6 victory over Winnipeg’s Kristy McDonald (0-2).

In the men’s division, Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers stole singles in the final three ends to swipe a 6-3 win from Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont. Both rinks sit at 1-1 in pool play.

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., moved up to a 2-0 record with a 9-4 victory over Sweden’s Niklas Edin. Jacobs earned deuces in the first and fifth ends and iced the game with a score of four in the seventh. Edin, the reigning world champion, dropped to a 0-2 record. 

Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud is also up 2-0 at the National following a 9-3 win against Jean-Michel Menard of Quebec City, Que. Ulsrud jumped out with a three-ender in the first and stole points in two and three to lead 5-0. The rinks alternated deuces through the fourth and fifth ends, Ulsrud held Menard to one in the sixth and took two more points in seven. 

The National is the third stop and second major on the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs through to Sunday evening at the General Motors Centre. Previously a men’s invitational, the National expanded this year to include a women’s division for the first time in the event’s history.

TV coverage begins Thursday at Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific.