SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock scored two in the third and added single steals in the fourth and fifth ends to pull away during a 7-2 win over Calgary’s John Morris in Draw 2 action Thursday morning at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling National tournament.
Laycock held the hammer in the opening end and nailed a raised takeout with his final shot for two. Morris settled for one in the second to close the gap 2-1. Laycock already earned shot rock in the third and drew to the button with his last stone to score another pair.
After the single steals, Morris settled for one in the sixth but Laycock added another point in seven.
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Elsewhere in Draw 2, Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher stunned Masters champion Brad Gushue with a 7-4 victory. Bottcher stole two in the second end to opening the scoring and Gushue, from St. John’s, N.L., bounced back with a single in the third and a steal of one in four to tie it 2-2. Bottcher jumped back ahead with a triple in the fifth, Gushue scored two in six but Bottcher sealed the game with a single in seven followed by a steal of one.
Toronto’s John Epping scored two in the extra end to win 7-5 over Calgary’s Matthew Blandford. Epping stole two in the third and scored a double in five to lead 5-2 but Blandford rallied back with one in the sixth followed by single steals in the seventh and eighth ends to tie up.
Heath McCormick stole one in the extra end to complete the comeback and defeat John Shuster 6-5 during in an all-American rink matchup. McCormick trailed 5-1 but scored a double in the sixth to close the gap and earned single steals in the seventh and eighth to send it into the extra frame.
Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers scored deuces in the second and fourth ends and stole a pair in the fifth to win 6-1 over Rob Rumfeldt, from Guelph, Ont.
Team Carruthers had to switch up his lineup as Braeden Moskowy couldn’t make it in time to Sault Ste. Marie due to snow. Grand Slam MC Peter Steski stepped in for the team and shot 80 percent.
National action continues with Draw 3 live on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific at 12:30 E.T.