Team Epping storms to victory
Ontario’s Team Epping claimed a handy victory in the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters men’s final Sunday.
Their 7-4 victory over Team Kevin Koe won them a $30,000 cash prize, a berth in the seasonending Humpty’s Champions Cup in Saskatoon and 12 points towards the Pinty’s Cup, awarded to the season’s winners following conclusion of April’s Players’ Championship.
“We just played really solid, we did not make too many mistakes, we got some breaks and were able to close the deal,” said winning captain John Epping. “Playing well under some pressure is always big.”
The five-time Grand Slam title winner Team Koe struggled with their draws in the fourth end to give up a point, and they dropped two more in the fifth when he was light.
However, Koe’s team fought back in the sixth to close within two. Epping fell into a bit of trouble in the seventh and the score by that point was 5-4.
Team Koe’s luck ran out in the eighth, as their throw veered off target. Epping fired one of his typical angle raises to kick out the counter, putting up two more points to win the championship.
Speaking after the game, Epping said his team planned to take two weeks off before entering the Tour Challenge. He added he enjoyed his visit to Truro and the culinary delights.
“We took in all the restaurants,” said Epping. “The people in the East Coast are so friendly.”
The next event of the 2018-19 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season is the Tour Challenge, which kicks off Nov. 6 at the Tournament Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont. The third of seven events on the Grand Slam calendar, the Tour Challenge will feature 30 elite men’s and women’s teams divided into Tier One and Tier Two competitions.