BOTTCHER, HOMAN WIN TITLES

Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher won his first career Grand Slam of Curling title. Bottcher completed a perfect week with a 6-3 victory over Toronto’s John Epping on Sunday in the men’s final of the Canadian Open at North Battleford, Sask. Bottcher, third Darren Moulding, second Brad Thiessen and lead Karrick Martin collected $30,000 from the $250,000 combined purse plus a berth in the season-ending Champions Cup. On the women’s side, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan captured her record 10th title after her team edged Silvana Tirinzoni’s Swiss squad 4-3. The team of Homan, third Emma Miskew, second Joanne Courtney and lead Lisa Weagle have played in four consecutive Grand Slam of Curling finals and winning three straight. The Canadian Open is the only one of the seven Grand Slam of Curling tournaments to use a 16-team triple knockout preliminary format — instead of round-robin pool play — where teams had to win three games before they lost three in order to qualify for the playoffs.