Sarah Wark came up just short at the Scotties B.C. Women’s Curling Championship on Sunday afternoon, falling 5-3 in an extra end to Patti Knezevic of Prince George at the Golden Ears Winter Club in Maple Ridge.
After defeating six-time provincial champion Kelly Scott 7-6 in the semifinal in the morning, Wark and her Victoria Curling Centre/Juan de Fuca rink of third Simone Brosseau, second Michelle Allen and lead Rachelle Kallechy, lost to Knezevic for the third time in the week.
Wark lost 7-4 in the A-event qualifier on Friday and was also defeated 8-3 in the Page 1-2 playoff game on Saturday by Knezevic, a three-time B.C. runner-up who finally got over the hump.
Both those previous losses included big ends against Wark (a three-ender in the first game and five-ender in the second), which never materialized on Sunday in a tight defensive battle.
If anything, Wark had the only quality chances at a multiple end, with cracks at deuces in both the sixth and pivotal 10th.
Wark’s hit for two in the sixth end rolled just inches too far and had to settle for a single and 2-2 tie.
Knezevic regained the lead with a single in the eighth and, after a blank in the ninth, Wark appeared set for the outright win in the 10th, needing to draw full eight-foot for a deuce. But her last rock was heavy and she had to settle for one, yet again, to force the extra end.
In the 11th, Wark couldn’t negotiate a very small port to get at a Knezevic counter and the veteran P.G. skip — with her team of third Kristen Fewster, second Jen Rusnell and lead Rhonda Camozzi — did not have to throw her final rock.
The Knezevic rink now heads to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts which begins Feb. 24 in Moose Jaw, Sask.
Knezevic is allowed to bring a spare to the event and it will be interesting to see if she goes with Kesa Van Osch of Nanaimo or someone from Dailene Sivertson’s rink as Knezevic took on that role for last year’s B.C. representative from the VCC. She could also look to one of Wark’s team or anyone else from the province.
