Victoria's Jason Montgomery begins today's action at the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Men's Canadian Direct Insurance Curling Championship today in Maple Ridge with a record of 1-3, after losing 9-6 to defending champion Bob Ursel of Kelowna in the late draw last night.
Making their debut at the men's provincials, the team of Montgomery, third Miles Craig, second Gregg Danderfer, and lead Will Duggan opened on Monday at the Golden Ears Winter Club by stealing in three straight ends to down former world champ Greg McAulay of Richmond 6-4. Later that day, however, the squad wasn't so fortunate against another world winner. Playing veteran Rick Folk of Kelowna, the Montgomery rink was outgunned 12-6.
"We'd like to have that game against Folk back," Montgomery said, before taking on Ursel in last night's late draw. "We didn't play very well."
The team regrouped for yesterday's first draw, only to lose a 6-5, extra-end heartbreaker to Dennis Graber of Kamloops, who drew the button for the win in the 11th end. The key end was the eighth, when Montgomery narrowly missed a short run-back that would have scored three. Instead, he gave up a steal of one.
"It just needed to curl another 1/2 an inch," said Montgomery, who continues the round robin today with games against Bryan Miki of Royal City and Tyrel Griffith of Vernon.
The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ winner, advances to the Tim Hortons Brier, March 7-15, in Calgary.
