Dunstone, McEwen continue winning ways at national curling trials qualifier

Regina's Matt Dunstone scored his third consecutive win, while Winnipeg's Mike McEwen picked up his second in a row at the Canadian Curling Trials Direct-Entry Event in Ottawa on Friday.

The tournament, which runs concurrently to the women's event, offers entry to two men's teams and three women's rinks into November's Olympic curling trials in Saskatoon.

After falling down 2-0 after the second end, Dunstone (3-1) outscored Jason Gunnlaugson (1-3) 7-1 in the final eight ends to claim a 7-3 win.

Dunstone also won his matchup against Colton Flasch earlier on Friday by a score of 8-4, only needing seven ends.

McEwen only needed seven ends to defeat Glenn Howard (2-2), winning 7-2. McEwen scored four points in the final end to close out the victory.

On the women's side, Kelsey Rocque handed Laura Walker her first loss of the qualifying event with a 7-5 victory.

Walker (2-1) closed the gap late after falling behind 6-3, but wasn't able to get any points on the board in the final end.

The Edmonton native won her match earlier on Friday against Corryn Brown by a score of 9-6.

In the other matchup, Casey Scheidegger capitalized on her momentum following a 10-6 win over Rocque (1-1), with her second consecutive win of the day, defeating Suzanne Birt 9-2.

Birt now sits at 0-2.