Hometown favourite Jim Cotter won both of his games Wednesday to reach the A-side semifinals at the CDI B.C. men’s championship in Vernon, B.C.
The four-time provincial champion bounced back to beat Daniel Wenzek of New Westminster 8-5 in nine ends during Draw 1. Cotter gave up a steal of two in the third to fall behind 3-1 but recovered with a deuce in the fourth and a steal of three in the sixth. Cotter added another pair in eight to keep his rink in charge while holding Wenzek to singles in the seventh and ninth ends.
Cotter, a finalist at last year’s Brier, earned two in the final frame to lift his team to a 5-4 win over Richmond’s Ken McArdle 5-4 in the second draw.
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Cotter next faces Dean Joanisse, whose Richmond-based team scored a 7-4 win over Darren Nelson of Kamloops in Draw 1 and a 11-7 victory against Maple Ridge’s Grant Dezura in Draw 2.
Sean Geall of New Westminster advanced to the other A-side semifinal with an 8-1 rout over Scott DeCap from Kamloops. Geall opened with a deuce in the third, scored three in the fifth and stole a trio of points in the sixth.
Geall meets Tom Buchy, who led his Kimberley-based rink to an 8-6 comeback victory over Brent Pierce. Buchy trailed 6-3 after the sixth but took command with a deuce in seven then stole two in eight and another point in nine.
The winner of the tournament will represent B.C. at the Tim Hortons Brier, starting Feb. 28 in Calgary. Watch coverage of the CDI B.C. men’s championship starting Saturday at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet Pacific.