Brad Jacobs beats hometown favourite Jeff Stoughton 7-4 at Roar of the Rings

WINNIPEG – Ontario’s Brad Jacobs upset hometown favourite Jeff Stoughton 7-4 on Sunday’s opening day of the Canadian Curling Trials.

Jacobs and his foursome from Sault Ste. Marie led from the beginning and widened the gap 4-1 after a double takeout in the fifth end scored two.

Even though the two-time world and three-time Brier champion Stoughton is beloved by local fans, the knowledgeable crowd at MTS Centre cheered in appreciation of Jacobs’ tough shot.

Stoughton bounced back with a pair in the sixth end to make it 4-3, but Jacobs stretched the lead to 6-3 with a draw that gave him a pair in the eighth.

Stoughton added one with the hammer in the ninth to make it 6-4 and Jacobs finished with one in the 10th.

Jacobs, 28, was a runner-up at this year’s world championships.

Stoughton, 50, is playing in his fifth Trials and has said this is his last crack at trying to earn an elusive berth to an Olympic Games.