CurlingZone: Satsuki Fujisawa wins Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic

Satsuki Fujisawa (Kitami, JPN) wins the Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic, defeating Min Ji Kim (Gyeongido, KOR) 7-3. Fujisawa with Chinami Yoshida at third along with Yumi Suzuki and Yurika Yoshida on the front end take home the $11,427CDN first place cheque along with 19.032 world ranking points, while Kim receives $5,713CDN and 14.953 world ranking points for their second place finish.

After a first end blank, Fujisawa stole 1 in the second end to take an early lead, then added another steal in the third end. Kim scored 2 in the fourth end to tie the game at 2, then forced Fujisawa to a single in the fifth end. Kim scored a single in the sixth end, with Fujisawa responding in the seventh end scoring 2. then added a steal of 2 in the eighth end for the 7-3 win.

Ayumi Ogasawara (Sapporo, JPN) defeated Daniela Jentsch (Fuessen, GER) 9-3 in the bronze medal game winning $2,285CDN and 11.555 world ranking points, while Jentsch won 8.156 ranking points for their 4th place finish.

Fujisawa went 3-0 in the 8 team, two pool qualifying round. In their opening game, Fujisawa defeated Tori Koana (Yamanashi, JPN) 7-2, won against Chiaki Matsumura (Karuizawa, JPN) 11-3, and defeated Kim 5-3 in their final qualifying round match.

Scotland's McMillan and Bryce set to get in mix with World's Best

After emerging on the global stage at senior level last month, Katie McMillan is feeling all the more ready for the challenge as she and partner Angus Bryce prepare to represent Scotland at the ACE & Company World Mixed Doubles Championships in Geneva over the next week (April 25 - May 2).