News Canadian Open

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. — Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Sweden’s Niklas Edin are clear through to the playoffs in the Meridian Canadian Open.

Jacobs doubled up on Calgary’s Kevin Koe 8-4 and Edin edged American John Shuster 7-6 in the A-qualifiers during Draw 7 Thursday at the Civic Centre.

The two-time Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title winner Jacobs (3-0) said it’s nice not having to go through a tiebreaker stage like he did last month in his hometown en route to the Boost National men’s championship as he heads straight through to Saturday’s quarterfinals. 

“We were able to sneak through in Sault Ste. Marie, but it’s nice to be able to go through A-side and only play three games to qualify,” Jacobs said. “We get to rest now and hopefully we can take advantage of that, come out and get in a few rocks and reps in out here, and just continue playing the way we are on Saturday and Sunday.”

Jacobs admitted that victory sort of feels like a while ago. 

“We practised when we could over the holidays, we definitely got a few reps in,” Jacobs said. “But it does kind of feel like it was yesterday when that event happened too because the holidays flew by so we’re probably taking a little bit of confidence and momentum from Sault Ste. Marie even though it was about a month ago.”

The reigning world champion Koe opened with the hammer but drew for just a single in the first end while facing two counters separated in the 12-foot circle. Jacobs capitalized after Koe clipped a guard to draw for a deuce in the second and take the lead. The first half remained textbook for Jacobs as he forced Koe to settle for another single in the third and scored another deuce in the fourth to go up 4-2 heading into the break.

Koe made a tap for two points of his own in the fifth end to knot it up, however, Jacobs matched with yet another deuce in the sixth and stole a pair in the seventh to bring out the handshakes.

“What can I say? The boys played great. That was a great team effort and a great team performance,” Jacobs said. “We were able to force, deuce, force, deuce and that’s ideal. I’m really just pleased with how we played in these first three games and hopefully we can get some momentum going into the playoffs.” 

Koe and Shuster drop to the B event of the triple knockout with 2-1 records.

John Morris of Vernon, B.C., improved to a 1-1 record taking down American Heath McCormick 9-3 in the B brackets. Morris scored four in the second, three in the fifth and stole two in the sixth to bring out handshakes. McCormick (0-2) opened with the hammer and earned two points in the first but was limited to just a single in four from there.

Edmonton’s Charley Thomas (2-1) completed a 5-4 comeback win over Saskatoon’s Bruce Korte (1-2). Thomas trailed by two points and rallied scoring a deuce in seven and a steal of one in eight. 

Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge, Alta., upset Ottawa’s Rachel Homan big time with a 10-4 rout in the women’s B stage. The defending champion Homan (0-2) started out strong scoring four in the third to lead by three but it was all Scheidegger (1-1) from there starting with a score of three in the fourth to tie it.

“I think we knew the ice well and we talked about that after giving that up [the four in the third], like the spots we didn’t know and so we were able to figure that out,” Scheidegger said. “That definitely helped us to score the three points in the next end.” 

Scheidegger, making her Grand Slam top-tier debut, rolled away with steals swiping three in the fifth, two in the sixth and another point in the seventh. 

“You kind of have like nothing to lose,” Scheidegger said. “It’s like well, we might as well go all out because they’re the best team in the world right now. Just play your best and see what can happen.”

Homan, who has never missed the playoffs at a Grand Slam event through 18 appearances, dropped to the C brackets and needs three consecutive wins in order to qualify. 

NOTES: The Meridian Canadian Open is the fourth event and third major of the 2016-17 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. … Winners of the Meridian Canadian Open earn spots for the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup taking place at the end of April in Calgary.