Suzanne Gaudet won her second straight national junior women’s curling title on Saturday.
Gaudet defeated Jennifer Guzzwell of St. John’s, Nfld., 6-4, before a supportive hometown crowd in Summerside, P.E.I.
Gaudet will now attempt to defend her title at the world junior curling championships in Kelowna, B.C., March 23-31.
Guzzwell was facing a wide open hit and stick to score one and force an extra end with her last shot. But she was wide and barely brushed Gaudet’s stone, giving up a steal of one.
“I missed my shot obviously,” Guzzwell said later. “But we didn’t expect to do as well as we did, so we’re happy with our silver medals.”
Guzzwell’s team, including third Shelley Nichols, second Stephanie LeDrew and lead Noelle Thomas, was a surprise finishing first in the round robin and earning the bye to the final.
Gaudet, 20, is the first skip to win back-to-back junior titles since Edmonton’s Cathy King in 1977 and 1978.
Her team of third Robyn McPhee, second Carol Webb and lead Kelly Higgens out of the Silver Fox Curling Club curled 81 per cent to the 73 per cent of Guzzwell’s team.
Gaudet finished second in the round robin and downed Saskatchewan’s Jolene McIvor of Saskatoon 9-5 in Friday’s semifinal.
reprinted with permission
