Joey Payeur
A former Muskie curler is in good position to see some weekend action at the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts while a Stratton native is going to have to win twice today—and get some help—in order to have the same chance.
Tracy Horgan and her rink from the Idylwylde Golf and Curling Club in Sudbury, which includes Devlin native Jenna Enge at second, sit in a tie for second place at 5-2 with Susan McKnight of Uxbridge heading into the final day of round-robin play in Thornhill.
Rachel Homan of Ottawa led the standings at 6-1 while Lisa Farnell (Peterborough) and two-time defending champion Krista McCarville (Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay) are tied for the fourth and final playoff spot at 4-3.
Ashley Kallos, who also calls the Fort William club home, is alone in sixth at 3-4.
Among Kallos’ crew is Jackie McCormick of Stratton, who is playing second.
The Horgan rink swept their two games yesterday while Kallos split her pair to paint herself into somewhat of a corner.
Horgan started her day with a narrow 7-6 victory over Marlo Dahl (Port Arthur Curling Club in Thunder Bay).
Dahl is in a four-way tie at the bottom of the standings at 2-5 along with Marika Bakewell (London), Kristy Russell (Shelburne), and three-time provincial champion Alison Goring (Georgetown).
Meanwhile, Kallos also took care of business yesterday afternoon by doubling Bakewell 8-4.
Then last night, Horgan and Kallos collided in a crucial match-up when it came to playoff potential for both sides, with Horgan prevailing 7-5.
Kallos grabbed one in the first but Horgan responded with a deuce in the second.
After a blank in the third end, Kallos scored a deuce in the fourth. But Horgan stormed back in a big way with three in the fifth to lead 5-3.
The two rinks then traded singles over the next four ends, with Horgan running Kallos out of rocks in the 10th to seal the victory.
Horgan can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win in either of her two draws today—the first against Russell in Draw 8 this afternoon and the second against McKnight in Draw 9 tonight.
Kallos must win both her games today to have any chance of advancing, but is in tough against McCarville this afternoon and then must face the front-running Homan this evening.
The provincial champ advances to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Feb. 19-27 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
