MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- With one more point on the board during the RBC Dominion Securities Western Showdown, Regina’s Michelle Englot would have picked up a huge win and a nice chunk of cash at the same time.
But when you’re hot, you’re hot, and Switzerland’s Xenia Schwaller was most definitely that this past week.
Schwaller and her rink of third Selina Gafner, second Fabienne Rieder and lead Selina Rychiger would cap an undefeated run with a 7-6 victory over Englot in the championship final Sunday at the Swift Current Curling Club.
It was as back-and-forth a game as you could find, as Englot, fourth Stephanie Schmidt, third Sara England and second Ashley Williamson got off to a great start and led 3-1 through four ends.
Schwaller got that back and then some with three in the fifth, but Englot regained the lead with a deuce in the sixth and looked to be in control coming home with a steal in the seventh.
The Zurich-based foursome would find their deuce in the eighth, though, and ended up putting together a solid extra end, forcing Schmidt into a draw to the button with her final shot. It would clear a high guard but not a second, and Schwaller had the one-point win.
Their rink took home $12,000 for their efforts.
In the men’s event, the championship round begins at 9 a.m. Monday.
Saskatoon’s Mike McEwen takes on New Westminster, B.C.’s Brent Pierce, with the winner of that contest advancing to the semifinal to take on the winner of Calgary’s Kevin Koe and Toronto’s John Epping.
Saskatoon’s Rylan Kleiter is also in the hunt, as they take on Edmonton’s Brad Jacobs in their quarter-final. The winner there will face either Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone or St. John’s Brad Gushue in their semi.
Both men’s semifinals are at 12:30 p.m. and the championship game is set for 4 p.m., with all the action at the Swift Current Curling Club.
Be sure to keep an eye on www.curlingzone.com for update and replays from the full week.
