 Alberta skip Kevin Koe delivers a shot during his team's win over Newfoundland and Labrador in their playoff game at the Brier curling championships in Halifax on March 13, 2010. Alberta won the playoff 6-5 and advance to the semifinal. (REUTERS) |
CALGARY - Kevin Koe and his Calgary rink were in on the earnings at this weekend's $52,000 Westcoast Curling Classic in New Westminster, B.C.
Koe & Co. were just a win away from earning a spot in the championship matchup against longtime Alberta rival Kevin Martin.
However, Koe and the reigning Alberta championship rink of third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen fell to Vancouver's Andrew Bilesky 6-5 in a well-played Monday semifinal.
The Koe-vs.-Bilesky playoff was a back-and-forth contest as the two rinks were tied 5-5 after seven ends.
In the eighth end, Bilesky capitalized on last-rock advantage and scored one point to earn a spot in the title game.
Martin, third John Morris of Chestermere, second Marc Kennedy of Edmonton and Calgary lead Ben Hebert prevailed in the final, defeating Bilesky 8-6.
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Calgary's Steve Petryk was 3-3 throughout the weekend and advanced to a tiebreaking game, where he lost to Kelowna's Jim Cotter.
Koe finished second at the Point Optical Curling Classic in Saskatoon earlier this season, and in New Westminster, his team earned $6,500 for its efforts.
For Martin, the win in the Westcoast Classic marked the rink's third consecutive in the event and paid $14,000.
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