Tour Roundup: Jacobs wins Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic
Brad Jacobs captured his first tour title with his new Calgary-based club at the Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic.
Jacobs defeated Team Scott Howard of Navan, Ont., 6-4 during Monday’s final in Penticton, B.C.
The seven-time Grand Slam of Curling title winner from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., joined forces with third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert this season.
Team Jacobs posted a 4-1 round-robin record and earned a 6-1 win over Team John Epping of Sudbury, Ont., during the quarterfinals plus a 6-4 decision against Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone in the semifinals to reach the championship game.
The final was the lone loss of the week for Howard, who was the event’s defending champion. Howard beat South Korea’s Team Jong-duk Park 9-3 in the quarterfinals and Team Daniel Casper of the United States 7-3 in the semis to advance.
Howard, second David Mathers and lead Tim March won the tournament last season as a team of three as skip Glenn Howard was out of the lineup due to injury. Following Glenn Howard’s retirement during the off-season, Scott Howard moved up to skip full-time. Mathers also stepped back from competitive curling and brothers Mat and Jason Camm joined at third and second, respectively.
SLUCHINSKI MAKES TEAM KOE DEBUT
The tournament was the first for Calgary skip Kevin Koe’s new-look squad with Aaron Sluchinski.
Koe, who dropped second Jacques Gauthier from his team in late September, played as a trio with third Tyler Tardi and lead Karrick Martin during the past three events.
Sluchinski threw third stones in the Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic as Tardi slid over to second.
Team Koe lost its first two games before winning three straight but fell 3-2 to Team Park to miss the quarterfinals.
WEEK 13 WINNERS
Men’s Division
• Swiss Europeans Qualifier: Team Yannick Schwaller
• Grand Prix Bern Inter Curling Challenge: Team Marco Hösli
• Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel: Team Matthew Manuel
• Sundbyberg Open: Team Axel Landelius
Women’s Division
• Swiss European Qualifier: Team Silvana Tirinzoni
• Curling Stadium Martensville International: Team Kayla Skrlik
• Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel: Team Christina Black
• Sundbyberg Open: Team Madeleine Dupont