Homan remains undefeated at Grand Slam of Curling's Masters with win over Hasselborg
Bottcher also improves to 3-0 in Saskatoon on penultimate day of round robin
Ottawa's Rachel Homan remained perfect at the Grand Slam of Curling's WFG Masters with a 7-5 win over Sweden's Anna Hasselborg in Draw 10 action on Thursday in Saskatoon.
Homan had the hammer coming into the eighth and final end down 5-4, and responded with a three-point end to improve to 3-0. Hasselborg fell to 2-1.
Winnipeg's Kaitlyn Lawes and Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni also posted Draw 10 victories.
Playoff bound at the WFG Masters 🙌🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gsoc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gsoc</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/curling?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#curling</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/teamhoman?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#teamhoman</a> <a href="https://t.co/1ZqRToMqaR">pic.twitter.com/1ZqRToMqaR</a>
—@TeamHomanLawes defeated Vancouver's Clancy Grandy 9-6, while Tirinzoni beat Sweden's Isabella Wrana 9-3. Grandy and Wrana both fell to 1-2.
In the other Draw 10 match, Kim Eun-jung of South Korea (1-2) stole one in the eighth end for a 5-4 win over Scotland's Rebecca Morrison (0-3).
Winnipeg's Kate Cameron (1-2) lost 5-1 to Delaney Strouse of the United States (2-1). Jennifer Jones (2-1), also of Winnipeg, was dealt her first defeat against Japan's Satsuki Fujisawa (2-1), losing 7-6 in extra ends.
American Tabitha Peterson (1-2) beat winless Stefania Constantini of Italy (0-3) 7-3 in the other Draw 12 matchup.
Gim and Homan stand atop the women's round-robin standings. Six rinks are tied for third at 2-1.
In men's action, Calgary's Brendan Bottcher improved to 3-0 with a 5-4 win over Scotland's Ross Whyte (2-1) on Thursday morning.
3⃣-0 start at the <a href="https://twitter.com/grandslamcurl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grandslamcurl</a> Masters.<br><br>We're loving all the fan support here in Saskatoon! Reminder that 📺 coverage starts today on <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a>. <a href="https://t.co/wfqAIfud6T">https://t.co/wfqAIfud6T</a>
—@BottcherCurlingMeanwhile, Brad Gushue of St. John's, N.L., needed just six ends to complete an 8-3 win over Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller. Both teams are at 2-1.
Saskatoon's Mike McEwen (1-2) posted a 7-3 win over American Korey Dropkin and Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell (2-1) earned a 5-3 win over Aaron Sluchinski (0-3) of Airdrie, Alta.
Matt Dunstone, also of Winnipeg, beat winless Cameron Bryce of Scotland (0-3) 6-5 to improve to 2-1.
Italy's Joel Retornaz (2-1) defeated Calgary's Kevin Koe (1-2) 6-5, and Sweden's Niklas Edin won 5-3 over winless James Craik of Scotland (0-3).
Carruthen's and Bottcher top the men's standings, while eight rinks are tied for third at 2-1.
Round-robin play ends with four draws on Friday.
