Lank captures Horizon Capital Curling Classic (UPDATED)

Patti Lank scored early and held the lead throughout as the Niagara Falls, New York rink captured the inaugural $36,000 Horizon Captial Curling Classic on Monday afternoon.

Lank took two points in the first end and built a 5-1 lead through five ends over Switzerland's Luzia Ebnother en route to the 8-4 victory at the Soo Curlers Association.

Lank, who used local Sherri Maguire at lead, pocketed $10,000 for the win while Ebnother took home $6,000.

In the semi-final matchups, Ottawa's Jenn Hanna dropped an 11-2 decision to Ebnother while perennial powerhouse Anne Merklinger from Ottawa fell 10-5 to Lank.

In quarterfinal action, Hanna advanced with a 9-2 win over Sudbury's Dawn Schwar in a quarterfinal matchup on Sunday night while Ebnother broke an 8-8 tie with one in the ninth end and a steal of one in the 10th to squeak past Sherri Middaugh 10-8.

Merklinger beat the Tour's money leader Cheryl Bernard from Calgary 7-5 and Lank defeated Sutton, Ontario's Kathy Brown 7-5.

Schwar, Middaugh, Bernard and Brown each received $3,000 for their quarterfinal appearances while Merklinger and Hanna receive $4,000 for semi-final berths.

Some 24 teams from across the world began the triple-knockout spiel on Friday. At stake was a berth in the Canada Cup event while teams are also collecting points to gain entry into the Olympic qualifier.

Included in the field were local rinks skipped by Elaine Uhryn and Nancy Houle. Uhryn eventually fell in the C event to Ebnother and finished at 2-3 while Houle finished with a 1-3 record.