YORKTON, March 18...Mary-Anne Arsenault of Halifax and Marie-France Larouche of St-Romuald, Quebec are the current leaders in women's play after Draw 3 of the Canada Cup, presented by Richardson International.

Arsenault, who throws last rocks on her Mayflower Curling Club team while third Kay Zinck holds the broom, improved to 2-0 in Section A with a 9-3 pasting of Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ontario, Wednesday afternoon at the Farrell Agencies Arena in the Gallagher Centre.  

The five-time Scotties and two-time world champion won her first game, 5-3 over 2006 Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary, earlier in the day.

Regina's Michelle Englot is at 1-0, while 2007 world champion Kelly Scott of Kelowna evened her record at 1-1, after beating Edmonton's Cathy King, 6-4, cementing the victory with a steal in the 10th end.  Kleibrink is 0-1 while Middaugh is 0-2.

Over in Section B, Larouche won a wild one over Calgary's Cheryl Bernard, taking three in an extra end for a 12-9 final to also improve to 2-0.  Bernard, who now drops to 0-2, held an 8-5 lead before Larouche hammered home a four-spot in the ninth end for a 9-8 edge.  Bernard then forced the extra with a 10th end single.  In the opening draw, Larouche defeated Sherry Middaugh, 8-5.

Kronau's Amber Holland is next with a 1-0 record, followed by Edmonton's Cathy King, now at 1-1, while defending Cup champion Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon is 0-1.

In the two men's games of Draw 3, Randy Ferbey of Edmonton, a three-time winner of the Canada Cup, opened with a 6-2 victory over Edmonton's Ted Appelman, who is now 0-2.

Winnipeg's Mike McEwen improved to 1-1 after dismantling Moncton's two-time world champion and 2006 Olympic gold medallist Russ Howard, 7-2.  Howard also dropped to 0-2.

The final draw of the opening day begins at 8:30 pm CT.

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