The annual Journal-Pioneer Cashspiel, part of the Atlantic Curling Tour, got underway this aternoon at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club in Summerside, with 12 teams taking part in the round robin competition.
The opening draw saw:
Scott Saunders of Halifax beat Charlottetown’s Blair Weeks 7-2, Saunders picked up four points in the seventh end,
Robert Shaw defeat Charlottetown clubmate Lisa Jackson 5-2,
Jamie Newson of Charlottetown steal the final end to edge Anthony Purcell of Halifax 5-4, and
Rod MacDonald and his Charlottetown rink beat Fredericton NB’s Derek Ellard team 5-1.
In the second draw,
MacDonald edged his sister, Kathy O’Rourke 7-6. O’Rourke was leading 5-2, but MacDonald scored four points in the sixth end to take the lead. MacDonald and O’Rourke are Summerside natives now curling out of Charlottetown.
Newson defeated three-time PEI Senior Men’s champ Mel Bernard from Summerside 9-5,
Shaw blanked Rob Moore of CFB Halifax 7-0, picking up five points in the second end, and stealing the next two, in a game that went only to the fourth end break.
Saunders edged Summerside native Mike Gaudet and his Charlottetown rink 5-3.
Saturday draws are at 11 am, and 2 and 6 pm
The two “A” qualifiers for the semi-finals- will be decided in the 2 pm draw, with Saunders playing Shaw, and Newson taking on MacDonald. The other two qualifiers will be determined with the 6 pm draw.
The semi-finals and the consolation final are scheduled for 10 am Sunday, but the consolation final may be moved to Saturday at 7 pm if the players agree. The final is Sunday at 1 pm.
Live results are available at http://www.silverfox-pei.com/curling/bonspiel.php?id=38