REGINA — Rachel Homan wrapped up the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season claiming a record-extending 13th career women’s title in the series.
Homan rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to edge Kerri Einarson 6-5 in an extra frame during the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup women’s final Sunday at the Co-operators Centre.
The Ottawa-based club of Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew and lead Rachelle Brown, who was filling in for Sarah Wilkes, cashed in $25,000 from the $210,000 combined prize purse.
Homan won the draw-to-the-button shootout to start with the hammer, but it was Einarson who slid away with the lead to begin.
Einarson stole a single point off the bat in the opening frame after making a great angle-raise takeout and Homan was unable to make a double.
It was 2-0 after two as Homan attempted an in-turn, cross-house double, but her shooter rolled under the second counter. Einarson doubled her lead in the third when Homan came up light on her last to fall behind by four points.
The pressure was still high in the fourth as Einarson sat five counters, and possibly six with a biter, but Homan drew right to the button to get on the board heading into the break as the momentum pendulum started to swing.
Einarson, who entered the event as the defending champion, finally held the hammer but gave up back-to-back single steals as she came up short on a draw in the fifth and jammed a double attempt in the sixth allowing Homan to close within one.
It looked like Einarson was going to blank the seventh end and retain the hammer coming home, however, her hit-and-roll remained in the rings for a single to make it 5-3.
Homan scored the equalizing deuce in the eighth to force the electric extra end.
After Homan tapped her own to sit two, Einarson attempted to bump in from the side. Both teams had their rocks right on the button but it was Homan’s stone that was covering the pin for the nail-biting win.
It was a rubber match final between the two teams this season as Homan was victorious at the HearingLife Tour Challenge in October while Einarson earned the WFG Masters in December during the rematch.
The Gimli, Man., club of Einarson, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Briane Harris, with Dawn McEwen subbing this week, had an amazing season in the series reaching the final in five of the six tournaments.
Einarson, who captured the Pinty’s Cup season championship last month, earned $17,000 this week as runner-up.
Brendan Bottcher beat Brad Gushue 5-3 to win the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup men’s title earlier Sunday.
UP NEXT
The Grand Slam of Curling returns in the fall with the HearingLife Tour Challenge kicking off the 2023-24 season, Oct. 17-22, at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont.
from Sportsnet.ca https://ift.tt/Qj0A9V4
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