Morning Star Staff
John Morris of Vernon iced David Murdoch of Scotland 7-6 Thursday afternoon at the $100,000 Boost National men’s cashspiel in Sault Ste. Marie.
Jim Cotter throws fourth rocks for Morris with Rick Sawatsky at lead and Ty Griffith at second.
The Vernon rink opened the 15-team showcase Wednesday night by falling 7-6 to John Epping of Toronto before dispatching Peter De Cruz of Geneva, Switzerland 6-1 Thursday morning.
Morris goes up against Kevin Koe of Calgary Friday at noon.
Morris, meanwhile, has an automatic berth as defending champion at the 2017 belairdirect B.C. Men’s Curling Championship, Feb. 8-12 at the Abbotsford Curling Club.
New in 2017 will be the event’s format.
For the first time, the championship will feature 12 men’s teams. The winners represent B.C. at the Tim Hortons Brier in St. John’s, Nfld. March 4-12.
The championship previously featured 16 teams. The 12 teams will play a modified triple knockout with a four-team page playoff. Two teams will earn berths to Abbotsford because of their ranking on the Canadian Team Ranking System list.
The final nine berths go to winners of four regional playdowns and one open playdown. The regionals go in Enderby, Trail, Port Alberni and Maple Ridge Dec. 9-11. The open event goes Jan. 6-8 at Cloverdale Curling Club in Surrey.
