SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – John Epping of Toronto scored the winning point on his last shot to defeat Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont. in the men’s final of the 2012 Sun Life Financial Players’ Championship at Credit Union Place.
John Epping fist-pumps upon victory
(Photo copyright by Anil Mungal)
Epping’s squad from the Donalda Club scored three in the second end for a 3-1 lead, and looked good for a critical deuce in the sixth end until Epping’s last stone caught a piece of debris, scoring only one for a 6-4 lead.
Howard’s Brier and world championship foursome managed a deuce in the seventh end for a 6-6 tie but Epping faced only a draw to the full eight-foot rings on his last throw, and made it perfectly.
Epping’s unexpected run to victory saw him beat Howard earlier in the round-robin, and he also eliminated Edmonton’s Kevin Martin in the semifinal by scoring three in the seventh end and then stealing the eighth.
Epping’s team of Scott Bailey, David Mathers and Howard’s son Scott Howard cashed $28,000 for the win and another $10,000 for finishing third in the Capital One Cup race, which celebrates Grand Slam prowess.