(by Jonathan Brazeau)
TRURO, N.S. — Brad Gushue of St. John’s climbed to a 3-0 record to qualify for the playoffs at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters.
Team Gushue earned a 6-2 victory over Team Niklas Edin on Thursday night during Draw 9 action.
Brad Gushue at the 2015 Pinty’s GSOC Masters in Truro, N.S. (Photo: Anil Mungal)
Gushue made an open hit for two in the fifth end to pull into the lead 3-2. He added a steal of one in the sixth when Edin’s angle raise attempt missed Gushue’s shot rock on the button. Gushue swiped two more points in seven to bring out the handshakes. [The Gushue team includes PEI native Brett Gallant at second stone.]
Edin holds a 2-1 record in the round robin.
GSOC Masters Live: Scores | Standings | Draw Schedule | TV Schedule
Tour Challenge Tier 1 winner Kevin Koe also qualified after defeating Halifax’s Shawn Adams 6-2. Koe, of Calgary, climbed to a 3-0 record while Adams dropped to 0-3.
Reigning Olympic Brad Jacobs earned a 6-3 victory over Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton. Jacobs, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., moved up to a 2-1 record and Bottcher fell to 1-2.
Local favourite Mary-Anne Arsenault of Halifax stole a 4-3 victory to stun Alina Paetz (0-3) of Switzerland and eliminate the reigning world champion from playoff contention. Arsenault trailed 3-0 after three and rallied back with a point in four followed by single steals in the sixth, seventh and eighth ends.
Team Arsenault, the sponsor’s exemption at the Masters, improved to a 2-1 record to stay in the mix.
Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher (1-2) scored two in the final end to earn her first win of the Masters with a 6-5 victory over Scotland’s Eve Muirhead (2-2).
The Masters is the second stop on the seven-event 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling schedule and runs through to Sunday at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.