News Masters

OKOTOKS, Alta. — Rachel Homan’s title defence at the WFG Masters continues into the playoffs as the Ottawa team clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. 

Homan fended off Scotland’s Eve Muirhead 7-5 Friday night to advance with a 3-1 record in pool play.

Muirhead was ousted from contention at 1-3.

Homan broke a 2-2 tie with a three-ender in the third and never relinquished the lead although it still came down to her final rock of the game. Up by one and facing two counters, Homan drew to the four-foot circle for shot rock to hang on. 

Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson improved to a 2-2 record to stay in the mix with a 6-3 win over Edmonton’s Val Sweeting. The 2014 Masters champion Sweeting heads home winless with a 0-4 record. 

In men’s division action, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen made it to the playoffs winning 6-5 in an extra end following a fierce rally from David Murdoch of Scotland. McEwen flew out of the gate with a three-ender in the first and stole one in the second for an early 4-0 lead. Murdoch (2-2) blanked the third and his patience paid off taking two in the fourth followed by a steal of one in the fifth close within a point. The 2014 Olympic silver medallist Murdoch limited McEwen to a single in seven and added another deuce in eight to force the extra frame.

Murdoch will play reigning world champion Kevin Koe (2-2) in a tiebreaker after the Calgary crew topped Peter de Cruz of Switzerland 7-4. De Cruz was eliminated at 1-3.

Niklas Edin of Sweden has advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4 victory over Team Gushue of St. John’s, N.L. Both are through with 3-1 records.

NOTES: The WFG Masters is the first of seven events on the 2016-17 Pinty’s GSOC schedule. … The event is also the first of four majors in the series alongside the Boost National, Meridian Canadian Open and WestJet Players’ Championship. … The WFG Masters runs through to Sunday at Pason Centennial Arena with action continuing Friday at 7:30 p.m. MT right here at thegrandslamofcurling.com.