Homan, Nedohin roll into Canadian Open A-qualifiers
YORKTON, Sask. — Ottawa’s Rachel Homan has climbed into the A-event finals at the Canadian Open with an 8-1 rout in five ends over Julie Hastings of Thornhill, Ont., during Draw 6 action Thursday morning.
The two-time Masters champion Homan (2-0) took two points in the opening end, four in the fourth and stole two in the fifth to ice the game early. Hastings (1-1) dropped in the B-event brackets.
Homan now face Winnipeg’s Team Kristy McDonald (Draw 8, 3:30 p.m. ET) with a playoff spot on the line at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament. The Canadian Open uses a triple knockout preliminary format where teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify.
Elsewhere, Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin (2-0) earned a point in the final end to edge Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg 7-6. Jones (1-1) settled for a single in the second and pulled ahead with a single steal in three to go up 2-1. The teams traded deuces in four and five. Nedohin earned a three-ender in six to recapture the lead 6-4 and Jones got two in seven to tie it.
Nedohin will play reigning Masters champion Val Sweeting of Edmonton in the other A-event final.
In the B brackets, Winnipeg’s Jill Thurston (1-1) scored two in the seventh and stole a pair in eight for a 10-6 victory over American Nina Roth (0-2). Regina’s Amber Holland (1-1) scored one in the sixth, stole two in seven and added a steal of one in eight to win 7-3 against Sherry Middaugh (0-2) of Coldwater, Ont.
