Simmons knocks out Michel at Meridian Canadian Open
YORKTON, Sask. — Calgary’s Pat Simmons stayed in contention at the Meridian Canadian Open eliminating Sven Michel of Switzerland 7-3 during Friday morning’s Draw 10 action.
The reigning Brier champion Simmons earned his first win in the triple knockout preliminary round to improve to a 1-2 record and will face former teammate Steve Laycock of Saskatoon in the C event semifinals.
Simmons scored four points in the third end to take a 5-2 lead. The teams alternated singles in four and six and Simmons stole a point in seven. Michel finished winless at 0-3.
Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton and Margaretha Sigfridsson of Sweden secured their first wins as well in the women’s division. Lawton (1-2) opened with a three-ender in the first, stole two in the second and cruised to an 8-3 win to oust South Korea’s EunJung Kim (0-3). Sigfridsson (1-2) scored five in the fifth during a 7-1 victory over Winnipeg’s Kristy McDonald (0-3).
NOTES: The Meridian Canadian Open is the fourth stop — and third major — of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs through to Sunday. … The event features a triple knockout where teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify for the playoffs.
