Homan cruises past Nedohin to open Players’ Championship
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Ottawa’s Rachel Homan kicked off the Players’ Championship with a bang Tuesday night breezing to a 7-2 victory over Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin in six ends.
Homan pulled away early with a 3-0 lead with a single in the first and a steal of two in the second. Nedohin got on the scoreboard with a point in the third, but Homan responded with a three-ender in the fourth. After Nedohin was forced to a single in five, Homan added another point in six and the teams shook hands.
The Players’ Championship is the season finale event for the Grand Slam of Curling featuring 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams. As reigning Masters champion, Homan has a chance to earn a $100,000 CAD bonus if her team can also capture the Players’ Championship to complete a series sweep.
Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland scored two in the sixth and stole singles in the seventh and eighth ends to complete a 6-5 comeback against Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg.
Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened her title defence with a 7-5 decision against Switzerland’s Michele Jaeggi.
Brier champion Kevin Koe of Calgary scored a single in the final end to edge Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 7-6 and Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen pulled ahead with a deuce in the seventh and held on to win 6-4 over Sven Michel of Switzerland in men’s division action.
Round-robin action resumes Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. AT.
