Sherry Middaugh nailed the open hit with her final shot to score four in the extra end and lift her Coldwater rink to a 9-5 victory over Toronto’s Megan Balsdon during opening draw action at the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts Monday in Penetanguishene.
With the game tied 4-4 in the ninth, Balsdon attempted to blank the end and retain the hammer coming home but her final rock clipped the guard and she gave up a steal of one. Facing three, Balsdon drew to the eight-foot in the 10th although it nearly curled too far and a measurement gave her the tying point to send it into the extra end.
Elsewhere, Ottawa’s Rhonda Varnes scored a deuce in the ninth and stole four in the 10th end to stun defending champion Allison Flaxey of Listowel with a 10-7 victory.
Flaxey jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a point in the first followed by single steals in two and three. Varnes tied it up scoring three in the fourth, but Flaxey earned a deuce in six to retake the lead. Varnes settled for one in seven and Flaxey added another two in eight for a 7-4 advantage before Varnes mounted the comeback.
Ottawa’s Danielle Inglis toppled Waterloo’s Shannon Kee 10-4 in eight ends. Inglis broke a 2-2 tie with a deuce in three and stole pairs in four and five to pull away. Trailing 8-2, Kee attempted to score two in the sixth but her shooter rolled too far and she was forced to one. Inglis added another deuce in seven and the two rinks shook hands after Kee was held to another single point in eight.
Thornhill’s Julie Hastings scored two in the fourth and stole three in the eighth to earn a 7-1 win over Waterloo’s Caitlin Romain.
Brantford’s Jacqueline Harrison scored deuces in the first and second ends, stole two in the third and held on to defeat Mississauga’s Clancy Grandy 9-5.
