Vernon’s Jim Cotter doubled Harriston, Ont.’s Jake Higgs 6-3 in a Saturday tiebreaker to advance to the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open of Curling at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
Awaiting him was Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont., the $100,000 spiel’s lone undefeated rink at 5-0.
The Cotter rink – third Jason (Gunner) Gunnlaugson, second Ty Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky – opened the three-pool round-robin at 1-1, but reeled off two straight wins, grounding Higgs 7-6 Thursday night and Regina’s Steven Laycock 7-5 Friday afternoon.
They wrapped up preliminary play by falling 6-5 to Toronto’s John Epping Friday night.
Sportsnet and the Vernon Curling Club joined forces to organize a couple of fan buses to take in the final draw Friday night.
Other final-eight matchups had St. John’s Brad Gushue against Toronto’s Mark Kean; Mike McEwan versus Jeff Stoughton in an all-Winnipeg battle; and Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs taking on Calgary’s Kevin Koe.
Semifinals went Saturday afternoon. The championship game goes today at 10 a.m. The game will be aired live on Sportsnet.
