Jim Cotter and his Vernon/Kelowna rink reached the final eight of the $100,000 Players’ Curling Championship in Toronto.
Cotter faced Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton in quarterfinal action Saturday afternoon, with the semis later that night. The championship final goes this morning (10 a.m. PT) and will be aired live on CBC.
Cotter, backed by third Jason (Gunner) Gunnlaugson, second Tyrel Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky, doubled Sweden’s Niklaus Eden 8-4 in a Saturday morning tiebreaker to qualify.
They finished the three-pool, 15-team round-robin at 2-2, with an 8-2 win over defending champion John Epping (2-2) of Toronto and a 5-4 decision over Bradford, Ont.’s Joe Frans (1-3). They lost 6-0 to Ontario’s Brad Jacobs (3-1) and 4-2 to Calgary’s Kevin Koe (2-2).
Other quarterfinal matchups had Coldwater, Ont.’s Glenn Howard (4-0) facing St. John’s Brad Gushue (2-2); Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen (3-1) taking on Epping; and Jacobs tangling with Oslo’s Thomas Ulsrud (2-2).
Cotter is ranked 17th on the Asham World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit, and ninth on the money list with $37,000 in winnings.
