By Jonathan Brazeau
TORONTO — South Korea's Team Ha rode the steal train en route to capturing the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard.
Trailing by two, Ha stole single points in the final three ends to stun Switzerland's Team Tirinzoni 5-4 during Monday's final at the High Park Club.
It's the second title of the season for the Chuncheon-based squad, featuring skip Seung-youn Ha, third Hye-rin Kim, second Tae-i Yang, lead Su-jin Kim and alternate Seo-jin Park. Ha, who entered the week No. 7 in the world rankings, also claimed the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard last month in Oakville, Ont.
The world No. 2 Team Tirinzoni got off to an ideal start, scoring deuces in the first and third ends while limiting Ha to singles in the second and fourth to lead 4-2 midway through the match.
A misfire from Team Tirinzoni fourth Alina Pätz on her first stone of the sixth end left Ha sitting shot rock. After Ha drew on top with her last, Pätz's angle raise chipped the second rock but left the shot stone untouched to hold up for a steal.
Facing three in the seventh, Pätz had to hit and roll to the button, however, her shooter ran out of juice and came up short to give up the tying point.
Ha drew around to the button with her last rock in the eighth end. That forced Pätz to attempt another tricky angle raise takeout, but her shooter wrecked on a guard.
It was the third consecutive final to start the season for Team Tirinzoni. The Aarau-based club ran the table at the Women's Masters Basel in Basel, Switzerland, and finished runner-up at the AMJ Masters in London, Ont.
Later Sunday, Canada's Team Kean scored a single in the eighth end to edge Scotland's Team Waddell 7-6 in the men's final.
CURLING TOUR WEEK 11 WINNERS
PointsBet Invitational (Calgary)
• Men's champion: Team Dunstone
• Women's champion: Team Homan
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Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic (Vernon, B.C.)
• Men's champion: Team Montgomery
• Women's champion: Team Harris
McKee Homes Fall Curling Classic (Airdrie, Alta.)
• Men's champion: Team Moulding
• Women's champion: Team Gray-Withers
