News Tour Challenge

PARADISE, N.L. — Reigning world champion Alina Paetz of Switzerland kicked off her Tour Challenge run with a wild 11-7 victory over Tracy Fleury of Sudbury, Ont., during Draw 2 Wednesday morning at the Paradise Double Ice Complex.

It was a back-and-forth affair with Paetz opening with a four-ender in the first end, but Fleury matched right back with a four-score in the second. The teams alternated deuces through three and four to keep the game locked up 6-6. Paetz took two in the fifth and didn’t relinquish the lead from there adding a steal of three in the sixth. Fleury had to settle for a single in seven and shook hands.

“It was a really tough game,” Paetz said. “The ice was really swingy so it was difficult with draw weight. We managed it but that was a close game and we’re happy to win.” 

Elsewhere, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan stole one in the extra end for a 7-6 victory over Julie Hastings, of Thornhill, Ont., and Calgary’s Chelsea Carey scored a three-ender in the fifth and held off Russia’s Anna Sidorova 6-3. 

In the men’s division, Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher earned a 6-4 victory over Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock and Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., defeated Switzerland’s Sven Michel 8-6.

NOTES: The Tour Challenge is the first of two new tournaments on the expanded seven-event 2015-16 Pinty’s GSOC season and features 30 men’s and 30 women’s teams split into two tiers. … Winners of the Tier 1 divisions also receive berths to the second new Pinty’s GSOC event, the season-ending Champions Cup. … Tier 2 champions earn byes to the next Grand Slam, the Masters, running Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in Truro, N.S. … Television coverage of the Tour Challenge starts Thursday at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT on Sportsnet.