Good debut for Fowler crew

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This article was published 12/10/2010 (5701 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rob Fowler didn’t go home from the Manitoba Lotteries Men’s Curling Classic cashspiel empty handed.

Fowler was eliminated by Vic Peters of Winnipeg 8-3 in Monday’s semifinals at the Brandon Curling Club, earning $3,500 with his new Brandon-based lineup of third Allan Lyburn, second Richard Daneault and lead Derek Samagalski.

"To start out and win four straight and go 4-1 on the weekend and win some money, it’s a good feeling." Fowler said after the team’s first World Curling Tour/Manitoba Curling Tour event. "Even getting down (three) in the first end, the team kept a good attitude and tried to battle back and it just didn’t work out for us."

Fowler suffered tough luck throughout the semifinal, starting in the first, when he made double takeout but left the shooter exposed for Peters to hit for three. Then in the fourth, Fowler had four counters in the house and had a shot to get back in the game.

"We wanted to put our guard biting the top eight-foot so he’s drawing against five, but it came six inches too far and let (fourth Daley Peters) play a hit," Fowler said.

Regina’s Scott Bitz claimed the $8,000 championship cheque, thrashing Peters 9-1 in four ends in Monday’s final.

Bitz scored four in the first, stole a single in the second and finished off the 1992 Canadian champion with a four-ender.

"It’s no surprise to me because they are a good team," Peters said after the loss. "We missed four tough shots in the first end and they made all of their draws. You can’t do that against good teams like that."

Bitz, whose lineup includes third Mark Lang, second Aryn Schmidt and lead Dean Hicke, said those misses allowed him to start, "stacking rocks in good spots on top of the rings."

"They were in tough and I just threw a good draw with my first and lobbed one into a pile with my second," Bitz said of that critical first end.

Bitz, Schmidt and Hicke lost the Manitoba Lotteries final two years ago as members of Joel Jordison’s Moose Jaw-based rink. The trio, which picked up Lang, a 2002 Brier competitor with Bitz, said they felt very comfortable on the Brandon club ice.

"It’s very similar to home, where you have a few folks sitting up there watching the game," Bitz said.

Peters, skipping a new Fort Garry club lineup with his son Daley throwing last rock with second Kyle Werenich and lead Cory Naharnie, cashed a $5,000 finalist cheque.

Bitz, reached the final by stealing a 5-4 extra-end win over Kevin Park of Winnipeg, stealing his single when Park was heavy on a free draw to the eight foot. Park, who played with Fowler on Jeff Stoughton’s team last year, earned $3,500 with his new foursome of third Chris Galbraith, second Taren Gesell and lead Pat McCallum.

Former Brandonite William Lyburn of Winnipeg’s West Kildonan club and Plumas product David Bohn of Winnipeg each earned $2,750 as quarter-finalists. Lyburn was eliminated by Bitz 9-4, while Bohn fell 4-3 to Park. Winnipeg’s Dave Elias lost 6-2 to Peters in the quarter-finals, while Swan River’s Brent Scales was eliminated 6-3 by Fowler.