Tour Challenge Live Blog: Homan wins 8th GSOC title
THUNDER BAY, Ont. — Rachel Homan has captured her eighth career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title.
Homan’s Ottawa club doubled up on Team Tracy Fleury of East St. Paul, Man., 8-4 in Sunday’s Tour Challenge Tier 1 women’s championship game at Tournament Centre.
The team of Homan, third Emma Miskew, second Joanne Courtney and lead Lisa Weagle finished with an unblemished 7-0 record and collected $20,000 plus 12 points towards the Pinty’s Cup.
Meanwhile, Team Elena Stern of Switzerland edged Japan’s Team Sayaka Yoshimura 6-5 in the Tier 2 final. Stern earned $10,000 plus the opportunity to move up the ranks receiving invitations to the 2019 Meridian Canadian Open in North Battleford, Sask., with airfare and accommodation provided.
Here is how it all went down:
1ST END: Fleury has been sharp on the draw all week and landed on the lid with her pre-game shootout to start with the all-important hammer. Homan was able to hold Fleury to just one point though as she was unable to hit and stay for a deuce with her shooter rolling out. FLEURY 1, HOMAN 0
2ND END: Fleury flubbed on her skip stones and Homan made her pay. Homan bailed out her team big time with a triple takeout on her first skip stone and then pulled off a double on her last to score three. HOMAN 3, FLEURY 1
3RD END: An opportunity missed again for Fleury as she was off the mark looking to bop Homan’s stone on the nose and create a chain reaction but hit just on the inside to roll away as the counter jammed and stuck around for a steal. HOMAN 4, FLEURY 1
4TH END: Homan used the force to limit Fleury to one point hitting and finishing on the button. HOMAN 4, FLEURY 2
5TH END: Another huge end for Homan, who tapped back Fleury’s counter far enough to drop another trey and strengthen her hold on the game. HOMAN 7, FLEURY 2
6TH END: Fleury got back into the game hitting for a deuce. HOMAN 7, FLEURY 4
7TH END: Another double led to a single for Homan to add some insurance. HOMAN 8, FLEURY 4
8TH END: Fleury ran out of options (and rocks) as Homan secured the title. HOMAN 8, FLEURY 4
Later, Team Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., goes up against Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher in the Tier 1 men’s final with Saskatoon’s Team Kirk Muyres and Team Scott McDonald of Kingston, Ont., playing for the Tier 2 title.
