Mark Nichols has Team Gushue off to strong start at Tour Challenge

CRANBROOK, B.C. – Mark Nichols led Team Gushue to a pair of important wins on Wednesday at the Tour Challenge.

Nichols (2-0), from St. John’s, N.L., started his day with a 9-4 victory over Scotland’s Kyle Smith in the early afternoon draw, then downed Edmonton’s Charley Thomas 8-4 in Draw 5 that evening.

Thomas dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

Nichols, who regularly plays third, is acting as skip while Brad Gushue nurses a hip injury. Adam Spencer is filling in at third for this tournament.

Meanwhile, Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock also made it a 2-0, taking two in the eighth to top American John Shuster 6-5. Shuster’s record is now 1-1.

Calgary’s Kevin Koe drew level for the day with a 6-5 extra-end win over Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud. Both teams are at 1-1.

In women’s division action, Edmonton’s Val Sweeting improved to a 1-1 record after topping Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg 9-3. Hasselborg also holds a 1-1 record.

Michelle Englot’s Winnipeg-based team also went 2-0 after a 7-5 victory over Calgary’s Chelsea Carey. Carey, the reigning Scotties Tournament of Hearts champ, dropped to a 0-2 record.