Howard steals win from Murdoch to start Masters run
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., has picked up where he left off on the Grand Slam of Curling series.
Howard, who capped last season winning the Players’ Championship, scored a deuce in the eighth and stole a point in the extra end to edge Scotland’s David Murdoch 6-5 Wednesday afternoon in his first game of the Masters.
The Masters is the first of four events on the 2013-14 Grand Slam of Curling schedule and serves as a preview for next year’s Winter Olympics featuring 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams from around the world.
Elsewhere, Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton scored a deuce in the fifth and stole two in the sixth during a 6-3 victory over Rui Liu of China and Denmark’s Rasmus Stjerne earned a 6-4 victory over reigning world champion Niklas Edin of Sweden.
In women’s action, Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin posted two sets of three-enders to stun defending champion Rachel Homan of Ottawa 8-2 in only five ends and Russia’s Anna Sidorova scored a deuce in the seventh to win 7-5 over American Erika Brown.
