Team Xu takes home first place at Vernon's Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic

Photo: Vernon Curling Club

Team Xu after their win

Team Xu from China took home the trophy at the 2024 Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic finals in Vernon on Monday.

Team Xu defeated Team Pierce from New Westminster B.C. by a score of 6-3 to take home first place and $6,000 in purse money – prize money split between the top eight teams.

“All of us were off on our draw weights,” said Brent Pierce, the skip for Team Pierce.

“We were not able to put any sustained pressure on them.”

The Curling Classic is a yearly event that brings elite curlers to the Vernon Curling Club. The competition has been running since 2001 and was a part of the World Curling Tour until 2019.

“Players like Kevin Koe, Kerri Einarson, and Colleen Jones have all competed here throughout the years,” said tournament chair Dave Merklinger.

The tournament is also a great way to expose the city of Vernon to high-level curling.

“We have our junior program playing alongside the men competing in the final, this is very important,” said Merklinger.

All three Vernon squads failed to qualify for the playoffs on Monday.

Team Arndt finished the qualifying round 1-4 and ended their competition with a fifth-place finish in pool b.

Team Noble finished with a 2-3 record with wins against Team Loken and Team Hood.

Team Perepolkin failed to register a win in the qualifying round with losses to Team Abe, Team Lee and Team Hodgson.

The women’s event finished Sunday with Team Kang from South Korea defeating Team Zhang from China by a score of 3-2.