Newfoundland and Labrador’s Devereaux books ticket to Scotties

A newcomer on the national senior scene and a seasoned veteran won the first two women’s provincial curling titles up for grabs this year.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Stacie Devereaux and British Columbia’s Kelly Scott each earned berths in the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Sunday with their victories.

Devereaux, the 2007 Canadian junior champion, will be making her first trip to the Scotties after completing an undefeated run through the provincials at Bally Haly Golf and Curling Club in St. John’s. She capped the week with a 9-8 win over defending champion Shelley Nichols Sunday.

Devereaux, of St. John’s, scored three in the eighth to build a 9-4 lead and hung on as Nichols clawed back with deuces in the final two ends.

Nichols defeated nine-time Scotties participant Heather Strong 7-5 in the semifinal. She would have needed to beat Devereaux twice Sunday to earn a repeat trip to the Canadian women’s curling championship.

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