Muirhead takes Canadian Open title
YORKTON, SASK. — Scotland’s Eve Muirhead defeated Ottawa’s Rachel Homan 5-3 in the Canadian Open women’s curling final on Sunday.
Muirhead went 6-1 through round-robin play and the knockout phase — including two upset victories over Sochi gold medallist Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg — to win the first Canadian Open women’s championship.
Muirhead, who earned bronze at the Sochi Olympics, opened up a 2-0 advantage in the second end and never trailed.
Homan and her rink of Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney and Lisa Weagle, counted one in the third end to cut Muirhead’s lead in half. That, however, was as close as she would make it as both sides traded singles right through to the eighth and final end.
Edmonton rinks skipped by Heather Nedohin and Val Sweeting were eliminated in semifinal action on Saturday. Muirhead defeated Sweeting 6-3 while Homan got past Nedohin 4-3.
Earlier in the day, Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., scored two in the final end to beat Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 6-5 in the men’s final.
It was the second Grand Slam of Curling title this season for Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker.
Gushue went into the final end trailing 5-4, but made a double takeout with his first shot. Laycock placed his final rock in the four-foot, then Gushue went for two, easing his last rock into the house for the deuce.
Gushue advanced to the final with a dramatic 5-4 win over Calgary’s Kevin Koe in semifinal action on Saturday. Gushue stole the game when Koe’s draw to the four-foot with his final rock went too far. Laycock eliminated Brendaen Bottcher of Edmonton 6-5 in Saturday’s other semifinal matchup.