Jones edges Grandy in extra end for KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup playoff spot
REGINA — Jennifer Jones and her Winnipeg-based team’s season continues after qualifying for the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup playoffs.
Jones scored a single in the extra end to clip Vancouver’s Clancy Grandy 9-8 in a clash of Canadian clubs during Saturday’s tiebreaker draw at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season finale.
Sweden’s Team Hasselborg also advanced with a convincing 9-4 victory over Eun-Ji Gim of South Korea.
Anna Hasselborg is away on maternity leave and second Agnes Knochenhauer, who is also expecting a baby, has moved up to skip. Third Sara McManus is throwing fourth stones, alternate Johanna Heldin is filling in at second while Sofia Mabergs continues to lead things off.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Ross Whyte scored two in the eighth end to edge Canada’s Reid Carruthers 5-4 and Team Dropkin took down John Shuster’s squad 6-3 in an all-American matchup during the men’s tiebreakers.
Dropkin is resting after winning gold in the world mixed doubles championship last week in South Korea. Andrew Stopera, who normally skips and throws third, is now tossing last rocks and lead Thomas Howell is at vice skip. Ben Richardson is subbing at lead with Mark Fenner remaining at second.
Jones will take on Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa, Hasselborg faces Canada’s Rachel Homan, Whyte goes up against Canada’s Brad Gushue and Dropkin plays Sweden’s Niklas Edin in the quarterfinals.
Canada’s Brendan Bottcher, Matt Dunstone and Kerri Einarson plus Tabitha Peterson of the United States await the winners in the semifinals after earning byes.
UP NEXT
The men’s and women’s quarterfinals begin at 4 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET).
Watch live on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).
