2011 United States Men's Curling Championship qualifiers

2011 United States
National Curling Championships
Tournament
men  women
Qualifiers
men  women

The 2011 United States Men's Curling Championship qualifiers took place during the month of January at various locations throughout the nation. Prior to the national finals, the number of entrants was paired down to ten teams through Regional Qualifiers and then a Challenge Round.

Teams qualified for the men's nationals in one of two ways. Two teams automatically qualified as the top two US teams on the Order of Merit list after the Curl Mesabi Cash Spiel is completed. This year, those two teams were the Pete Fenson and Tyler George rinks.[1]

The remaining eight spots for the nationals were awarded to the top finishers in the regional qualifiers and challenge rounds. Five teams qualified from the qualifiers round, where each qualified site receives one or more qualifying spots. The other three spots went to the winners of the challenge round.[2]

Contents

Regional Qualifiers

This year, there were three regional qualifiers, which will take place in Medford, Wisconsin, Bismarck, North Dakota, and Rochester, New York. The qualifiers will take place from January 5–9. A total of 29 teams (not including the Fenson rink or the George rink) participated in the qualifiers.

The qualifiers either were held using a round robin format or a knockout format of play. The double knockout provision, which states that a team is eliminated from qualifying for the nationals if the team has at least two losses in their win-loss record, was in place for all three qualifiers. If there are teams with less than two losses, they will play each other until the number of teams still able to qualify matches the number of qualification spots available.

The qualifier scheduled in Seattle, Washington was cancelled because there were not enough teams to meet the minimum five teams that need to sign up for a qualifier in order for it to take place. Two teams transferred to other qualifiers, while two other teams dropped.[3]

Key
Teams to Nationals (Fargo)
Teams to Challenge Round (Waupaca)

Medford Qualifier

The Medford qualifier was held in a round robin format with eight teams competing for the top spot. Two teams qualified directly to the nationals in Fargo, while three teams qualified to the Challenge Round in Waupaca.[4]

Teams

Skip Locale
Todd Birr Mankato
Craig Brown Madison
Matt Carlson Mankato
Brady Clark Seattle
Geoff Goodland Eau Claire
Blake Morton McFarland
Kroy Nernberger Madison
Paul Pustovar Madison
Berth Brown Goodl. Birr Clark Nern. Pust. Mort. Carls. W L
Craig Brown - 6-3 9-7 7-8 9-7 9-6 8-5 11-3 6 1
Geoff Goodland 3-6 - 4-5 7-4 9-3 8-7 9-7 9-6 5 2
Todd Birr 7-9 5-4 - 8-10 8-3 0-8 3-6 3-9 5 2
Brady Clark 8-7 4-7 10-8 - 2-7 7-5 11-0 10-1 4 3
Kroy Nernberger 7-9 3-9 3-8 7-2 - 7-6 5-4 9-1 4 3
Paul Pustovar 6-9 7-8 8-0 5-7 6-7 - 10-0 8-5 3 4
Blake Morton 5-8 7-9 6-3 0-11 4-5 0-10 - 9-7 1 6
Matt Carlson 3-11 6-9 9-3 1-10 1-9 5-8 7-9 - 0 7

Bismarck Qualifier

The Bismarck qualifier was held in a knockout format. Eleven teams participated in this qualifier. Two teams qualified directly to the nationals in Fargo, while four teams qualified to the Challenge Round.[4]

Teams

Skip Locale
John Benton St. Paul
Ryan Berg West Fargo
Craig Disher Rolla
Mike Farbelow St. Paul
Zach Jacobson Langdon
Dave Jensen Bismarck
Travis Kitchens Devils Lake
Jason Larway Seattle
Jerod Roland Minot
Owen Sampson Edmore
Matt Stevens Minnesota

Results

  A Event
  Jerod Roland 10  
  Travis Kitchens 4       Jerod Roland 1  
           Craig Disher 8  
             Craig Disher 9  
             John Benton 4  
           Matt Stevens 4  
           John Benton 8  
             Craig Disher 10
  Owen Sampson 8         Zach Jacobson 6
  Ryan Berg 1       Owen Sampson 4  
           Jason Larway 9  
             Jason Larway 10  
  Zach Jacobson 9         Zach Jacobson 11  
  Dave Jensen 7       Zach Jacobson 8       
           Mike Farbelow 6       
      
  B Event
  Ryan Berg 10
  Dave Jensen 9
  B Event
      
               
               
                 
               
               
               
             Zach Jacobson 6  
  Travis Kitchens 2       Mike Farbelow 7  
  Mike Farbelow 9       Mike Farbelow 11  
           Owen Sampson 2  
           Mike Farbelow 10
           John Benton 4  
               
               
             Mike Farbelow 4
           Jason Larway 7
             
               
             
               
               
               
           Craig Disher 7  
           Jason Larway 9  
           Matt Stevens 4       
  Matt Stevens 8       Jerod Roland 8       
  Ryan Berg 0       Jerod Roland 2
           Jason Larway 7  
             
               
      
  C Event (1)
      
               
               
                 
                 
               
               
             Jason Larway 8
             Zach Jacobson 4
           Jerod Roland 1  
  Ryan Berg 1       Owen Sampson 9  
  Owen Sampson 8         Owen Sampson 6  
             Zach Jacobson 9  
                    
                    
      
  C Event (2) Final
      
               
               
                 
               
               
               
                 
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             Mike Farbelow 6
           Craig Disher 9
             
               
           John Benton 8
  Travis Kitchens 8       Matt Stevens 3  
  Dave Jensen 9       Dave Jensen 4  
           Matt Stevens 9  
           John Benton 5  
           Craig Disher 9  
                    
                    
             
               
             
               
      

Rochester Qualifier

The Rochester qualifier was also held in a knockout format. Ten teams participated in this qualifier. Only one team was able to qualify directly to the nationals, and one team moved on to the Challenge Round.[4]

Teams

Key
Team to Nationals
Team to Challenge Round
Skip Locale
Joseph Calabrese Rochester
Brandon Corbett Rochester
Scott Edie Laurel
Gregory Eigner Fort Wayne
Alex Leichter Wayland
Dan Machold Schenectady
Heath McCormick New York
Clark Raven Rochester
Rick Van Cuyck* Rochester
Bryan Wight Canandaigua

*Due to injuries, the Van Cuyck rink withdrew prior to the start of the competition

Results

  A Event
  Joe Calabrese 6  
  Dan Machold 7       Dan Machold 3  
           Heath McCormick 12  
             Heath McCormick 9  
             Scott Edie 1  
           Scott Edie 9  
           Brandon Corbett 6  
             Heath McCormick 7
             Bryan Wight 5
           Bryan Wight 7  
           Clark Raven 6  
             Bryan Wight 8  
             Greg Eigner 1  
           Greg Eigner 7       
           Alexander Leichter 6       
      
  B Event
      
               
               
                 
               
               
               
             Bryan Wight 9  
  Joe Calabrese 8       Scott Edie 8  
  Brandon Corbett 4       Joe Calabrese 3  
           Clark Raven 7  
           Clark Raven 2
           Scott Edie 5  
               
               
             Bryan Wight 8
           Heath McCormick 6
             
               
             
               
               
               
           Heath McCormick 7  
           Alexander Leichter 3  
           Alexander Leichter 10       
           Dan Machold 4       
           Alexander Leichter 6
           Greg Eigner 5  
             
               
      
  C Event (1)
      
           Clark Raven 2  
  Brandon Corbett 12       Brandon Corbett 7  
  Dan Machold 5         Brandon Corbett 8  
             Alexander Leichter 7  
               
               
             Brandon Corbett 10
             Bryan Wight 8
               
               
                 
                 
                    
                    
      
  C Event (2)
      
               
               
                 
                 
               
               
             Heath McCormick 8
             Scott Edie 5
           Joe Calabrese 5  
           Greg Eigner 8  
             Greg Eigner 3  
             Scott Edie 10  
                    
                    
      
  Playoffs
      
           Heath McCormick 7
  Bryan Wight 9       Bryan Wight 5
  Brandon Corbett 3  

Challenge Round

The challenge round took place in Waupaca, Wisconsin from January 19–23. Up to ten teams qualified for the challenge round; up to eight teams that didn't qualify for the finals from the regionals but placed well in the regionals qualified, and up to two teams qualified if they were among the top ten US Order of Merit teams and did not qualify for the finals or challenge round after the regionals.[2] These teams played in a round robin format for three spots in the nationals.

Teams

Skip Third Second First Locale
John Benton Peter Stolt Jeffrey Puleo Erik Ordway St. Paul
Todd Birr Greg Romaniuk Doug Pottinger Kevin Birr Mankato
Mike Farbelow Eric Fenson Nick Myers Aaron Nunberg St. Paul
Zach Jacobson Kevin Deeren Zane Jacobson Kraig Deeren Langdon
Kroy Nernberger Ryan Lemke Jake Will Steve Day Madison
Paul Pustovar* Jeremy Roe Matt Hamilton Patrick Roe Madison
Owen Sampson Ned Sampson Tucker Smith Kyle Young Edmore
Bryan Wight Michael Moore Joel Dietz Mark Lazar Canandaigua

*Qualified based on Order of Merit standings
Note: Brady Clark (WA) has chosen to withdraw from the Challenge Round.

Results

Key
Teams to Nationals
Berth W L
Todd Birr 5 1
Zach Jacobson 5 1
Paul Pustovar 4 3
John Benton 3 4
Mike Farbelow 3 4
Kroy Nernberger 3 4
Owen Sampson 2 5
Bryan Wight 2 5

Draw 1

Thursday, January 20, 2:00 pm

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Kroy Nernberger 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 7
Paul Pustovar 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 6
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Mike Farbelow 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 X X 2
Owen Sampson 2 1 1 3 0 1 0 1 X X 9
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Final
John Benton 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 4
Zach Jacobson 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 5
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Todd Birr 2 0 2 2 3 X X X X X 9
Bryan Wight 0 2 0 0 0 X X X X X 2

Draw 2

Thursday, January 20, 7:00 pm

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Zach Jacobson 0 0 2 0 1 0 7 X X X 10
Bryan Wight 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 X X X 3
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
John Benton 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 X X 6
Todd Birr 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 X X 1
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Mike Farbelow 1 1 0 2 2 3 X X X X 9
Kroy Nernberger 0 0 2 0 0 0 X X X X 2
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Owen Sampson 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 X X X 5
Paul Pustovar 2 0 4 2 0 2 0 X X X 10

Draw 3

Friday, January 21, 1:00 pm

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
John Benton 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 6
Mike Farbelow 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 7
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Paul Pustovar 0 0 2 0 5 1 X X X X 8
Bryan Wight 0 0 0 1 0 0 X X X X 1
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Zach Jacobson 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 9
Owen Sampson 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 8
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Kroy Nernberger 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 4 X 8
Todd Birr 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 X 5

Draw 4

Friday, January 21, 7:00 pm

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Bryan Wight 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 6
Owen Sampson 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 5
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Kroy Nernberger 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 4 X 8
John Benton 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 X 5
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Todd Birr 1 0 0 3 0 2 1 1 X X 8
Paul Pustovar 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 X X 3
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Mike Farbelow 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 3
Zach Jacobson 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 2 1 X 9

Draw 5

Saturday, January 22, 1:00 pm

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Mike Farbelow 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 X 6
Todd Birr 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 5 X 9
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Zach Jacobson 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 X 3
Paul Pustovar 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 X 5
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Kroy Nernberger 0 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 X 11
Bryan Wight 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 X 7
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
John Benton 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 2 X 8
Owen Sampson 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 X 5

Draw 6

Saturday, January 22, 7:00 pm

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Paul Pustovar 0 0 0 0 0 X X X X X 0
John Benton 0 0 3 2 3 X X X X X 8
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Bryan Wight 0 1 0 0 1 0 X X X X 2
Mike Farbelow 1 0 3 1 0 2 X X X X 7
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Owen Sampson 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 X X 2
Todd Birr 1 1 0 3 1 0 1 3 X X 10
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Zach Jacobson 0 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 1 1 8
Kroy Nernberger 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 6

Draw 7

Sunday, January 23, 9:00 am

Sheet A Final
Todd Birr NP
Zach Jacobson NP
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Final
Owen Sampson 2 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 9
Kroy Nernberger 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 2 1 1 0 8
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Paul Pustovar 1 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 X 7
Mike Farbelow 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 X 5
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
Bryan Wight 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 X 7
John Benton 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 3

References