Saskatchewan’s Knapp splits games Sunday at Brier

Kelly Knapp earned a split Sunday at the Brier.

Knapp and his Regina Highland rink beat Newfoundland and Labrador’s Nathan Young 7-3 in the morning draw — the team’s first-ever win at the Canadian men’s curling championship — before falling 8-4 to Alberta’s Kevin Koe in the evening.

The Saskatchewan champions enter Day 4 at the Brier in London, Ont., with a 1-2 record.

In the morning, Knapp scored one with hammer in the first end, stole one in the second end, stole three in the third and stole one in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead.

The teams traded singles in the fifth and sixth ends before Young scored one in the seventh and stole one in the eighth to complete the scoring.

In Saskatchewan’s second game of the day, Koe used the hammer to score two in the first end before Knapp answered with one in the second end. Koe blanked the third and fourth ends before putting up three in the fifth to go up 5-1.

Knapp scored one in the sixth and stole one in each of the seventh and eighth ends to cut the lead to 5-4, but Koe made a double to count three in the ninth and the teams shook hands.

Saskatchewan is to face Nunavut in Monday’s evening draw.