Music: {allcanada} MARTIN ESCAPES WITH 5-4 WIN OVER FOWLER AT CANADIAN OPEN

Thursday, January 27, 2011

{allcanada} MARTIN ESCAPES WITH 5-4 WIN OVER FOWLER AT CANADIAN OPEN

OSHAWA, Ont. -- Kevin Martin admits he got lucky Thursday at the 2011 BDO Canadian Open curling event.

The Edmonton skip escaped with a 5-4 win over Rob Fowler of Brandon, Man., in the afternoon draw. Martin secured the win when Fowler blew a draw to the four foot that would've secured his team the win.

"Rob deserved to win," Martin said. "He just threw that last one a little too heavy."

With the win, Martin, the 2010 Olympic champion, improved to 1-1 while Fowler's rink dropped to 0-2.

"Right now we're a little rusty with the mechanics," Martin said in an online chat after the match. "We've been playing (competitions) too much and not practising enough, so next week before provincials we're going to work on the details."

Martin was scheduled to face Norway's Thomas Ulsrud, the Olympic silver medallist, in the evening draw. And once again the Norwegian side is sporting wild-coloured pants, something it also did in Vancouver.

Fowler's misery continued with a 5-3 loss to Winnipeg's Jeff Stoughton. But no team felt as miserable as the Edmonton squad skipped by Don Walchuk.

Walchuk scored five early in his match against Mark Bice of Sarnia, Ont. But Bice replied with two points in the third end before stealing seven straight points over the next five ends en route to a 9-5 win.

"It's nice to get a memorable win, we actually got some fan support, too," said Bice. "They were getting a little flustered.

"I would be too, if I was blowing a 5-0 lead."

Also flustered was Jim Cotter of Vernon, B.C., who held a 7-3 lead over Pat Simmons of Moose Jaw, Sask. before losing 8-7 in an extra end.