Jacobs opens Grand Slam event on winning note

The first Grand Slam of Curling event is underway, and Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs opened the six-day event with a victory on Wednesday.

The Jacobs rink, which includes third Marc Kennedy, second E.J. Harnden, and lead Ryan Harnden, picked up a 6-5 win over Scott McDonald of Kingston, Ont. in the fourth draw of the tournament.

With the hammer in the opening end, Jacobs took an early lead with three in the opening end before stealing one in the second end to take a 4-0 lead.

McDonald cut into the lead with three of his own in the third.

The teams traded singles in the following four ends as the Jacobs rink picked up the victory.

Jacobs returns to action on Thursday with a pair of games.

The team will face Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont. in the sixth draw, which begins at 8 a.m. and then will face Calgary’s Kevin Koe in the evening draw at 8 p.m.

In facing Koe, the game will be a rematch of the championship in the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard, which Jacobs won by a 6-1 margin.

The team wraps up round robin action on Friday in draw 12 against Peter De Cruz of Geneva, Switzerland at 4 p.m.

The Masters features 15 men’s and 15 women’s teams with the top eight in each advancing to the playoff round, which begins on Saturday afternoon.