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Southeast teams compete at southerns

Two teams from southeast Saskatchewan came up short in their respective bids to qualify for the upcoming SaskTel Tankard men’s provincial curling championship.
Men’s southern playdowns in Weyburn
Trent Walter of Lampman, right, watches while Dave Wetsch and Jim Brown sweep during the men’s southern playdowns in Weyburn. Photo by Greg Nikkel of the Weyburn Review

Two teams from southeast Saskatchewan came up short in their respective bids to qualify for the upcoming SaskTel Tankard men’s provincial curling championship.

The Mark Walter rink, competing out of the Lampman Curling Club, and the Tye Olson rink, competing out of the Estevan Curling Club, were at the southern men’s playdowns from Jan. 18-20 in Weyburn. The event had a triple knockout elimination format.

The two teams met in the first round, with Walter’s rink winning 10-9 in an extra end. Olson scored four in the sixth end to take a 7-4 lead, but Walter scored once in the seventh and stole one in the eighth to pull within one. After Olson scored two in the ninth to lead 9-6, Walter took three in the 10th to tie the game.

Walter then stole one in the extra end for the victory.

The Walter rink’s next game wasn’t as close, as they defeated the Shawn Meyer rink competing out of the Callie Curling Club. Walter scored two in the fourth and stole two in the fifth and one in the sixth to break open 3-2 game.

Walter then dropped a 10-9 decision to Jeff Hartung. The two teams had big ends early, with Walter leading 5-3 after three ends. Hartung rallied, and pulled out the win by outscoring Walter 4-1 in the final three ends.

Walter’s next game was an 8-2 loss to Brady Kendel in the B event. Walter scored twice in the first, and gave up just one in the second, but then Kendel stole at least one point in each of the next five ends to pull away.

Walter recovered to beat Trent Krupski 7-5 in his first game in the C event. A steal of two gave Walter a 7-3 lead after eight ends, and then they held Krupski to one in each of the last two ends.

Walter’s bid for provincials came to an end in a 10-6 loss to Kendel. Walter led 2-0 after two ends, and the two teams were tied at fours at the fifth end break, but it would be a steal of three by Kendel in the seventh end that would be the difference.

As for Olson, after losing to Walter, he recovered to defeat Kyle Haywood 8-2. Haywood led 2-1 after two ends, but after Olson scored one in the third, he stole at least one point in each subsequent end until the two teams shook hands after the eighth frame.

Their next game was a 7-3, nine-end loss to Steven Howard. The teams were tied 1-1 after four ends, but Howard scored once in the fifth and two in the sixth to pull away.

Olson then defeated Adam Himmelspach 5-1 in a tight defensive game that was scoreless until Olson scored two in the fourth. Neither team generated much offence in the final six ends.

A 10-2 loss to Meyer ended Olson’s tournament. Meyer led 6-0 after five ends, and after Olson scored two in the sixth, Meyer scored four in the seventh to end the game.