News Canadian Open

YORKTON, Sask. — Ottawa’s Rachel Homan scored four in the fourth and stole points in three consecutive ends to slide past Regina’s Amber Holland 9-2 during Draw 2 action Wednesday morning at the Canadian Open.

It’s the first time a women’s division has been included in the third Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament of the season.

Edmonton’s Val Sweeting held on for a 7-6 victory over Alli Flaxey, from Listowel, Ont. Sweeting, who won her first Grand Slam title at the Masters last month, jumped out to an early six-point lead scoring a deuce in the second, stole three in the third and one in the fourth. Flaxey got on the board with a three-ender in five to cut the deficit, the teams alternated singles in six and seven and Sweeting conceded two in the final end to hang on.

Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg earned a 6-4 victory over American Nina Roth, Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin scored the winning deuce in the eighth end for a 7-6 win over Winnipeg’s Jill Thurston and Julie Hastings, of Thornhill defeated Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater 5-2 in an all-Ontario matchup.