News Masters

LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. — Winnipeg’s Jason Gunnlaugson improved to a 2-1 record at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters.

Gunnlaugson, who won September’s Tour Challenge Tier 2 to earn a spot in the major tournament, took down John Morris 7-4 during Draw 8 action Thursday.

“It feels awesome,” Team Gunnlaugson lead Connor Njegovan said. “We’ve worked really hard to get ourselves back into this spot and just to be able to come out and play and get some wins against these guys is huge for the confidence for us going forward.”

Morris, who throws third stones, opened with the hammer and got out to a 2-0 start with fourth Jim Cotter drawing for a deuce in the first. Gunnlaugson had an opportunity to take two right back in the second, but his last hit and rolled too far for just a single.

A little heavy turned into a huge swing in the third as Cotter missed the draw and Gunnlaugson stole a trio to pull ahead 4-2.

Facing three counters again in four, Cotter hit and stuck around for a single.

Gunnlaugson blanked the fifth but gave up one in the sixth to tie it 4-4 when his risky slash double attempt jammed in the back.

Cotter struggled again in the seventh missing the mark with his last and handing Gunnlaugson an easy open draw anywhere into the house for three points and a 7-4 advantage. Morris had nowhere to hide in eight needing to score three and Gunnlaugson made an open hit to run him out of rocks.

“Jim is going to be in our pool for [Olympic] pre-trials so it’s a battle before we get to the pre-trials in a week and a half,” Njegovan said. “It’s good to come out firing, make some good shots down the stretch and get the win.”

Team Morris, from Vernon, B.C., has been eliminated from playoff contention with a 0-3 record.

Masters: Scores | Standings | Draw Schedule | TV Schedule

Elsewhere, Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., jumped to a 3-0 record with a 7-2 win over Peter de Cruz of Switzerland. De Cruz, who will represent the Swiss side at the Winter Olympics, is now at 1-2.

Reid Carruthers moved up to 2-1 drawing for one in the eighth to edge Pat Simmons 7-6 in a battle of Winnipeg-based teams. Simmons has been eliminated with a 0-3 record.

American John Shuster (1-2) staved off elimination scoring three in the fifth to top Thomas Ulsrud (2-1) of Norway 6-4.

In the lone women’s division match, Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones bounced back big time from a bad start to crush Jacqueline Harrison of Mississauga, Ont., 10-4.

The reigning Olympic champion Jones qualified for the playoffs with a 3-0 record while Harrison (0-3) is out of the mix.

“It feels great,” Jones said. “The Slams are hard, all of the teams are so tough so if you can get into the playoffs before your last game it’s kind of a weight off your shoulders for sure.”

After giving up a steal of two in the first and one in the second, Jones charged in the third sitting with a five count. Jones stole a pair of her own in the fourth to make it 7-3, forced Harrison to just a single in five, and closed the game out early with three in the sixth.

“In the first, I had a chance to score big by making a double and it just worked out in the worst possible way: we gave up a steal of two,” Jones said. “The second end didn’t go well from start to finish and then we just turned it up and made some good shots. I made a good one with my first one [in three] to force Jacqueline through the port and fortunately for us she didn’t make it and we had the draw for five.”

NOTES: The Masters is the second event and first major of the 2017-18 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. … Round-robin action runs through to Friday with the quarterfinals and semifinals Saturday and finals set for Sunday. … TV coverage continues at 4 p.m. ET on Sportsnet East, West, Pacific and ONE and online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) or gsoc.yaretv.com (international).