Fenson gains finals, Schultz bows

By Pioneer staff reports

March 10, 2006 at 11:00 PM

The title hopes of Bemidji's Pete Fenson rink remained alive Friday as the defending men's champions edged Craig Disher of North Dakota 6-5 to gain the first berth in the finals.

But the Jessica Schultz quartet was eliminated by Margie Smith of Duluth 7-6 in the 3-4 match-up to end its stay.

The U.S. World Team titles will go on line today with the women's title match at 10 and the men's championship at 2.

Fenson will be matched against Disher once again after he eliminated Jason Larway 7-6 Friday night in an extra end.

Larway ousted Todd Birr 7-2 in the 3-4 match.

Disher won their first meeting 10-5.

Deb McCormick gained the women's final with a 8-3 win over Patti Lank.

Lank took on Smith for the second final berth Friday night and won 7-5.

Fenson edged Disher for the second time in three days in a clash of former national champions.

He took a 1-0 lead in the first but fell behind as Disher evened the score in the second and stole one in the third.

But the defending champs and Olympic Bronze medal winner tied matters in the third, then stole two in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 5-2 lead.

But it was not to stand up as the Rolla foursome got one back in the seventh and stole single points in the eighth and ninth to deadlock the score at 5-5.

Fenson, however, had the hammer and used it in the tenth for the deciding point.

Larway led from the start scoring twice in the first and third to take a 5-0 lead after five.

Birr got one back in the sixth and seventh but Larway matched this pair with two in the eighth to end the match early.

Comeback falls short

Schultz opened strong, scoring single points in the first and second.

But Schultz went ahead with three in the third and stole three more in the fourth and fifth for a 6-2 lead.

The Bemidji quartet cut it to 6-4 in the sixth and traded points in the seventh and eighth trailing 7-5 entering the last end.

It stole one in that frame but needed two as its title hopes died.

McCormick reversed an earlier loss to Lank in another match-up of national champs.

This time the Wisconsin four scored twice in the second and third to take a 4-1 lead and widened a 4-3 margin with three in the seventh to end the match.

Lank beat Smith 8-2 in their first meeting.

MEN'S DIVISION

Fenson 100-121-000-1 - 6

Disher 011-000-111-0 - 5

Larway 202-100-02 - 7

Birr 000-001-10 - 2

WOMEN'S DIVISION

McCormick 022-010-3 - 8

Lank 100-101-0 - 3

Smith 003-210-010-0 - 7

Schultz 110-001-101-1 - 6

Disher, Lank win

In the night matches, Disher and Lank remained alive to restore another round of 1 vs. 2 matches.

Disher jumped to a 5-1 lead after four but Larway fought back with two in the fifth and seventh to trail 6-5 and stole one in the tenth after Disher had blanked the eighth and ninth.

But he regained the hammer for the extra end and made it pay off.

Lank fell behind 3-2 when Smith laid two in the fifth. But she matched that pair in the sixth and added two more in the eighth to snap a 4-4 tie.

Smith came back with one in the ninth to trail by one but lost the hammer and Lank used it to score the final point in the tenth.

MEN'S DIVISION

Disher 202-101-000-01 - 7

Larway 010-020-200-10 - 6

WOMEN'S DIVISION

Lank 100-102-020-1 - 7

Smith 001-020-101-0 - 5

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