2011 United States Men's Curling Championship qualifiers

Main article: 2011 United States Men's Curling Championship

The 2011 United States Men's Curling Championship qualifiers took place during January at various locations throughout the nation. Prior to the national finals, the number of entrants was pared 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 was completed. This year, those two teams were the Pete Fenson and Tyler George rinks. 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 received one or more qualifying spots. The other three spots went to the winners of the challenge round.

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.

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.

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.

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					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
	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					Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
																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)					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
																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)					Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					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.

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					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
	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					Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
																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)					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
						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)

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Heath McCormick

8

Scott Edie

5

Joe Calabrese

5

Greg Eigner

8

Greg Eigner

3

Scott Edie

10

	Playoffs					Finals
						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. 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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	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 (has hammer)	0	1	0	1	1	2	0	1	1	X	7
John Benton	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	3