News Masters

SELKIRK, Man. — Calgary’s John Morris stole singles in the sixth and seventh ends to cool Mike McEwen and his red-hot Winnipeg club 5-3 during Draw 12 Friday at the Masters Grand Slam of Curling. 

Morris, playing in his first tournament with his new squad, improved to a 2-2 record to finish pool play and guaranteed at least another game. McEwen, who already qualified for the playoffs and moves on at 3-1, won four consecutive tournaments to start the tour season and holds an impressive 31-2 win-loss record on the season.

A steal in the opening end for Morris was the harbinger. McEwen recovered scoring a deuce in the second, the teams alternated singles in three and four and Morris added another in five to tie it 3-3.

Elsewhere, Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton (2-2) scored a deuce in the sixth and stole one in the seventh to give his team an 8-5 win over Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud (0-4) and remain in contention.

Toronto’s John Epping grabbed one in the final end to edge Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., 6-5 to finish the round robin with a 3-1 record and qualify for the playoffs. Howard finished at 2-2 and stays in the mix.

In the women’s division, Switzerland’s Alina Paetz (2-2) jumped out with a six-ender in the second and brushed aside compatriot Silvana Tirinzoni (2-2) in a 9-5 win in seven ends.

Reigning world champion Binia Feltscher of Switzerland finished round-robin play undefeated at 4-0 after slipping past Sweden’s Margaretha Sigfridsson (2-2) with a single in the eighth end to win 5-4.