Calgary’s John Morris tops Switzerland’s Peter de Cruz at the Masters

SELKIRK, Man. – Calgary’s John Morris fended off a late charge by Switzerland’s Peter de Cruzfor a 6-5 win on Wednesday night in Draw 5 of the Masters Grand Slam of Curling.

Morris scored a triple in the first and a deuce in the third to take a 5-1 lead.

De Cruz and Morris traded singles in the fourth and fifth ends and the Swiss rink added a double in the seventh to make it 6-4.

In the eighth, De Cruz had two rocks sitting in the house but Morris had the hammer and stuck with his final shot to give up one but secure the victory.

Elsewhere, Toronto’s John Epping edged Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton 5-4. Brad Gushue from St. John’s, N.L., defeated Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud 6-4.

Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock stunned Olympic champion Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in an 8-1 victory.

In the women’s division, Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones routed Heather Nedohin of Sherwood Park, Alta., 11-3.

In Draw 4, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen trumped Scotland’s David Murdoch 10-3 and Edmonton’s Kevin Koe downed Jim Cotter, from Kelowna/Vernon, B.C., 12-5.

In women’s play, Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni scored one in the final end to edge Sherry Middaugh, from Coldwater, Ont., 6-5.

Winnipeg’s Kristy McDonald lost to Sweden’s Margaretha Sigfridsson 10-2 in five ends and reigning world champion Binia Feltscher of Switzerland scored one in the final end to edge Scotland’s Eve Muirhead 7-6.

In Draw 3, Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., beat Ulsrud 5-4. Laycock topped Sweden’s Niklas Edin 6-5 and Switzerland’s Sven Michel topped countryman de Cruz 6-2.

In women’s action, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan needed an extra end in a 7-5 win over Switzerland’s Alina Paetz and Russia’s Anna Sidorova beat Winnipeg’s Allison Flaxey 6-3.

Earlier, Chelsea Carey of Winnipeg beat Tirinzoni of Switzerland 6-3, Val Sweeting of Vegreville, Alta., topped Nedohin 7-4 and Feltscher defeated Sherry Anderson of Delisle, Sask., 5-3.