The Brandon Sun: Online Edition - Stoughton win worth $30 grand

Monday, January 9th, 2006
By: The Canadian Press

WINNIPEG — Jeff Stoughton may not be heading to the Olympic Games next month, but he has enough cash to buy a big-screen TV to watch the curling action from Italy.

Stoughton and his Winnipeg foursome won $30,000 Sunday after defeating Calgary’s John Morris 7-6 in the 11th end of the BDO Classic Canadian Open final in front of 5,003 fans at the MTS Centre.

Stoughton, third Jon Mead, second Garry Vandenberghe and lead Steve Gould of Brandon lost the Olympic berth last month to Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue in an 8-7 final at the trials in Halifax.

Gushue was also competing in the 15-team Winnipeg event and didn’t make it to the eight-team playoffs but neither that nor the big cheque took the sting out of missing the trip to Italy for Stoughton.

‘‘This amount is miniscule compared to going to represent Canada at the Olympics so you can’t compare the two at all,’’ he said. ‘‘This is fantastic to win here in Winnipeg in your hometown so that’s the best part of this event.’’

Morris and teammates Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy and Paul Moffat picked up an $18,000 cheque for second place in the $100,000 Grand Slam event, the second of four major bonspiels on the World Curling Tour.

A semifinalist at the Olympic curling trials, Morris said it was good to win some cash.

‘‘It’s better than losing at the trials,’’ he said. ‘‘You get 100 pats on the back (for that) so that’s the good thing about these Slams. If you make it pretty deep into the weekend, then at least you’re going home with a paycheque.

‘‘As curlers, it’s not always easy to make a lot of money at this game.’’

Stoughton has now won $49,000 this season while Morris has earned $44,500.

Stoughton downed defending BDO champion and 2002 Olympic silver medallist Kevin Martin of Alberta 6-5 in the 11th end of one semifinal. Martin took home $12,000.

Morris upset world champ Randy Ferbey of Edmonton 7-5.

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