Grant Hardie captured his first tour title with his new team Sunday at the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic in Cornwall, Ontario.

Hardie and his Scottish squad fended off Team John Epping 6-4 in the men's final.

After nine years playing with Bruce Mouat, Hardie moved on during the off-season and linked up with fourth Ross Whyte, second Craig Waddell and lead Euan Kyle to skip and throw third stones.

Hardie, who had skipped on tour before joining Team Mouat, has barely missed a beat in his return at the wheel, finishing runner-up in his season debut last month at the Euro Super Series on home ice in Stirling.

Epping and his new Winnipeg-based club didn't leave Cornwall empty-handed either.

The AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic is part of the Grand Slam of Curling's new Satellite Events series, serving as a qualifying tournament for the GSOC Co-op Invitational, Oct. 13-18 at Victoria's Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Since the GSOC competition committee already selected Hardie for the event, the qualifier berth goes to Epping as the next highest-finishing eligible team.

Epping held a 2-0 advantage after scoring a single in the first end and stealing a point in the third, however, Team Hardie jumped ahead in the fourth when Whyte bounced back with a big double takeout to score three.

Hardie extended his lead to 4-2 with a steal in the fifth after Epping's angle raise missed the mark.

Epping was forced to one in the sixth, but tied it 4-4 with a steal in the seventh when Whyte jammed a double takeout attempt.

Still, that meant Hardie retained the hammer for the final frame, and Whyte didn't need to throw his last. Epping's hit-and-roll came up short of outcounting Team Hardie's pair of stones.

HAT TRICK FOR PÄTZ

Switzerland's Alina Pätz picked up her third tour title in as many events to start the season.

Pätz defeated Xenia Schwaller 4-3 to win the women's championship in a third final between the top two Swiss squads.

Similar to Hardie, Pätz has returned to her skip roots this season following an eight-year run with Silvana Tirinzoni. Her new team includes third Selina Witschonke, second Stefanie Berset and lead Renée Frigo.

Pätz broke a 1-1 tie with a draw for a deuce in the fourth end. After alternating singles in ends five and seven, Schwaller held the hammer coming home but was only able to add one point.

All three of Pätz's title wins have come in Satellite Events. She defeated Schwaller in the Euro Super Series final and won the rematch last Monday at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Oakville, Ontario.

Those three losses are the only blemishes on Schwaller's record this season. The reigning world champion also earned a title victory at the KW Fall Classic two weeks ago in Waterloo, Ontario.

With Pätz and Schwaller already in the GSOC Co-op Invitational, the women's qualifying berth from the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic passes down to semifinalist Team Miyu Ueno of Japan. Italy's Team Giulia Zardini Lacedelli also reached the final four in Cornwall but earned a qualifying berth through the Euro Super Series.

The Grand Slam of Curling will officially announce the spots once teams have confirmed.