John Morris was 0-2 going into Thursday night’s draw in the $100,000 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge in Regina.
Morris, a Calgary firefighter, and Jim Cotter of Vernon are one of 15 teams in the Tier 1 event at the Co-Operators Centre at Evraz Place. There is $2 million up for grabs in the Grand Slam this season.
With Rick Sawatsky of Kelowna on injured reserve, Morris inserted Catlin Schneider of Saskatchewan at second and moved Ty Griffith of Kelowna to lead. Cotter plays third but throws skip rocks.
The Morris rink fell 6-5 to Steven Laycock of Saskatoon in their opener Tuesday night. Laycock threw at 83 per cent, while Cotter shot 67 per cent and Morris 87.
Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie brushed back Morris 8-5 Wednesday afternoon, ringing up five points in the seventh end with an in-turn through a port on his final stone.
Jacobs posted a 93 per cent, while Cotter tossed at 78 per cent.
Morris faced Norway’s Steffen Walstad in Thursday night’s draw. Laycock, John Epping of Toronto and Brad Gushue of Newfoundland were all 2-0.
The 60 teams are divided into two tiers of 15 men’s and 15 women’s squads. Competing in a round-robin style, the Tier 1 teams are chasing a combined $200,000 purse.
while the Tier 2 teams compete for $100,000 in prize money.
On the women’s side, Val Sweeting of Edmonton was 3-0 at press time Thursday afternoon. Sweeting stopped Bingyu (Betty) Wang of China 8-7 in an extra end and was joined by Alina Paeta of Switzerland at the top of the table.
Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg won her first two games.
Winners of the Tier 1 event will receive invitations to the Humpty’s Champions Cup in Calgary (April 24-29, 2018), while the Tier 2 champions will secure a spot in the Mastersevent in October.