FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., rolled out of the gate scoring points in the first four ends to down Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock during Draw 2 action Thursday at the Syncrude Elite 10.
Howard (1-0) won the first and stole three consecutive ends to take a commanding four-point lead. Laycock could only count one in the fifth and shook hands as Howard took the match 4 & 3.
Laycock (0-2) dropped his opening draw game to reigning National champion Mike McEwen of Winnipeg.
Syncrude Elite 10: Scores | Standings
Elsewhere, Calgary’s Kevin Koe defeated Sven Michel of Switzerland 3 & 1. Koe took the first end and stole the second to set up a two-point advantage. Michel couldn’t get the third and Koe scored in four to go 3-up. Michel won the fifth to get on the board but Koe stole the seventh to ice the game.
Koe (1-1) bounced back after falling in his Draw 1 game to Brad Jacobs, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers defeated Niklas Edin of Sweden 3 & 1. Carruthers (1-0) won the fourth and sixth ends and stole the seventh. Edin holds a 0-1 record in the tournament.
The Syncrude Elite 10 uses match play rules. Teams compete to win the most ends by either scoring two or more points (with hammer) or steal at least one point (without hammer). If an end is blanked, the hammer switches and points do not carry over.