Vernon’s Darren Heath remained undefeated at 2-0 heading into Saturday morning action at the Thompson Okanagan men’s curling playdowns at the Vernon Curling Club.
Heath, backed by third Dave Belway, second Darin Laface and lead Darryl (Heavy D) Houston, opened with an 8-7 win over Scott Decap of Kamloops Friday afternoon before stopping Kelowna’s Kevin Mackenzie 7-5 in the night draw.
The Vernon foursome tangled with Kamloops’ Brian Windsor (3-0) Saturday for a chance to play in one of two Sunday qualifiers for the B.C. men’s playdowns, Feb. 6-12 in Parksville. Playoff draws go today at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Mark Longworth (third Michael Longworth, second Jamie Sexton and lead Jason Wizniak) bowed 9-8 to Windsor in the opening draw Friday morning, but rebounded that night with a 7-5 win over Kelowna’s Adam Cseke.
TJ Perepolkin (third Ryan LeDrew, second Tyler Orme and lead Chris Anderson) dropped his lone Friday draw to Windsor 7-6.
Local Super League leader Brad Wood, supported by third Darren Nelson and front enders Darin Gerow and Cal Jackson, ended Friday action at 0-2, beginning with a 9-6 afternoon loss to Mackenzie.
They fell 6-4 to Decap in the late draw.
Losers will have a second chance to earn a provincial berth at an open spiel, Jan. 13-16 in Kelowna.
Vernon’s Jim Cotter, the defending B.C. men’s champion, backed by third Kevin Folk, second Ty Griffith, lead Rick Sawatsky, has an automatic berth to the Parksville playdowns.
Meanwhile, Cotter’s sister, Chelan, is returning to the B.C. women’s spiel after her Prince George-based rink skipped by Patti Knezevic won the B final at a recent provincial qualifier in Kamloops.
Women’s provincials go Jan. 23-29 in North Vancouver.
