Kevin Koe's rink ended it in four ends.

Skip for the current world champions, Koe and company won the 2010 Skookum World Curling Tour Cash Spiel after a 5-2 win in the finals Sunday at the Whitehorse Curling Club against former world champion Greg McAulay's side.

For their efforts, the Edmonton-based team hauled in $12,000, runners up won $8,000 and the third and fourth place teams took home $5,000 each.In the finals, Koe said the turning point came in the third end when he took three off a McAulay error.

"Once we were up four there that was the big turning point, and we're a pretty good team once we get the lead and we were able to keep it,” Koe said.

"It wasn't as close as I expected, but we played well and got a few breaks, and had Greg in a lot of trouble…that's just more of sign of how well we played.”

Both teams were undefeated heading into the finals.

McAulay, who was a world champion in 2000, filled in at the last minute after skip Bryan Miki injured his foot two days before the spiel began on Thursday.

McAulay played with lead Chad Hofmann previously, but never played with teammates Tyler Klitch or Jay Batch.

"They were a lot of fun, really good guys, keen guys playing,” McAulay said of the New Westminster, B.C., team. "I came because they're some really good curlers too.”

He was, however, familiar with Koe's rink, having played against them in grand slams.

"They're a great team, that's why they're world champions. They're so solid, from lead to skip, that they make everything happen,” McAulay said.

He agreed that the game slipped away in the third end.

"It kind of snuck up on us; we shouldn't have let that happen,” McAulay said. "We missed a couple half shots, and they made some great shots and ended up getting the three. Then you're four down against them fighting an uphill battle, it was pretty tough.”

And that's all it takes to lose to a world-class team, he added.

"You just don't place the rocks in the right spots, you're in trouble. They make such good shots. They're still human too, but they made everything and played really well.

"I'm older now,” he laughed. "They're younger, and they can throw harder, move rocks more.”

Koe said the win gives them confidence hading into the Canada Cup in Medicine Hat, Alta., in December and a grand slam in Vernon, B.C.

"It's always nice to go win events no matter where they are,” Koe said.

"We come up to take it pretty seriously, like any other event, and we want to win and do well. Maybe there's not as much pressure as some other events, but we don't treat it any other way.”

"There were a lot of out of town teams and some good local teams; so it's not as competitive as some of the big grand slam events, but it's a top-notch spiel, so that's part of the reason we come here.

"We heard it's a good spiel – good money, good teams, good ice – and they treat you well. We came last year, and that's all it took; we'll keep coming as long as they keep having it. It's one of the top spiels on tour.”