News Masters

Scheidegger slides into playoff picture at Masters

LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. — Casey Scheidegger is the first to qualify for a playoff spot at the Masters.

Scheidegger, from Lethbridge, Alta., climbed to a 3-0 record to advance after rolling right past Michelle Englot’s Winnipeg-based team 7-2 in six ends during Thursday’s morning draw.

Team Scheidegger, winners of last season’s Meridian Canadian Open, have one more round-robin game remaining against Winnipeg’s Team Kerri Einarson in the afternoon.

“It feels good because we usually don’t do things the easy way, so it relieves a little bit of pressure,” Team Scheidegger second Jessie Scheidegger said. “We’re still going to come out in our last one, try to win that one and go into the playoffs 4-0. … It’s nice to have control of your own destiny and that’s all we can ask for.”

Scheidegger swiped an early lead stealing five points in the second end when Englot crashed on a guard.

“With the steal, we just forced Michelle to make a really hard shot on the other side of the sheet that was kind of not used in the first couple ends,” Jessie Scheidegger said. “We were able to force her to a hard shot and it worked out for us.”

Things went from bad to worse for Englot as she misfired her last in the third as well to concede another point and fall behind 6-0.

Englot (1-2) was forced to one in four to get on the board and made Scheidegger hit for a single in five re-establishing the six-point gap. The 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts silver medallist Englot looked to score a bunch in the sixth firing into a quarry of rocks but when the dust settled it was just a single and handshakes.

“There were a couple ends there that were looking pretty scary,” Jessie Scheidegger said. “Having a lead like that it’s OK to give up three but we again forced her into tough shots.”

Masters: Scores | Standings | Draw Schedule | TV Schedule

Elsewhere in Draw 7, Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg (2-0) doubled up on Allison Flaxey of Caledon, Ont., 8-4.

“We are keeping the momentum that we’ve been having this season,” Hasselborg said. “We just want to improve and continue to be in the big games and you have to go through the pool to be there, so it feels good.”

Hasselborg, ranked No. 1 in the world, came out strong piling up rocks in the house and hitting to score four.

“We played a solid first end and were lucky to come out with a four,” Hasselborg said. “We continued to play well and hold that lead, so I’m happy with the game.”

Flaxey (0-2) cut the deficit in half with a single in two and a steal in three. Hasselborg reclaimed the four-point advantage with a deuce in four and extended her lead stealing one in the fifth. Flaxey grabbed a pair in six but shook hands after Hasselborg tacked on another point in seven.

Elsewhere, Alina Paetz (2-1) of Switzerland scored four in the second end and three in the seventh to trounce Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., 9-3. Middaugh has been eliminated from playoff contention with a 0-3 record.

American Jamie Sinclair (1-2) is still in the mix picking up her first win defeating Eve Muirhead (2-1) of Scotland 6-4.

Round-robin play continues with Draw 8 at 12:30 p.m. MT at Centennial Civic Centre. Watch on Sportsnet and online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) or gsoc.yaretv.com (international).

NOTES: The Masters is the second event and first major of the 2017-18 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. … Round-robin action runs through to Friday with the quarterfinals and semifinals Saturday and finals set for Sunday.

Jan. 14-19, 2025 Sleeman Centre Guelph, ON