Berkhamsted Linksap Open: Kennedy and Coleman Victorious

Ben Coleman and Georgina Kennedy claimed the titles at the Berkhamsted Linksap Open, with the latter securing her fifth win of 2021, the most of any player on Tour.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Challenger 10 level tournament was held with only domestic entrants, with only those currently living in the United Kingdom being able to participate.

Coleman was the top seed for the tournament, and came through all four matches without dropping a game, starting off with a 3-0 win against wildcard Hasnaat Farooqi in the first round.

Wins against No.7 seed Tom Walsh and Scottish No.3 seed Rory Stewart saw the Englishman make his way in to the final, where he came up against compatriot, and the week’s surprise package, Sam Todd.

The No.8 seed took out two of the top four seeds en route to the final, but it was Coleman that claimed the victory, beating the youngster 3-0 to secure his first victory since 2017.

In the women’s event, it was very much a similar story to plenty of other English-based events that have taken place this summer, as the unseeded Georgina Kennedy came through to win what was her fifth title of the year.

The Englishwoman, who moved up to World No.74 following two wins in July, got her campaign off and running with a win over No.5 seed Ali Loke, before then beating No.4 seed Alison Thomson.

She defeated the event’s top seed Emily Whitlock in the semi-finals, before then taking down No.2 seed Lisa Aitken in the final to claim another remarkable victory.

Results: Berkhamsted Linksap Open
Men’s Final
[1] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [8] Sam Todd (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (33m)

Women’s Final
Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [2] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (31m)

Men’s Semi-Finals
[8] Sam Todd (ENG) bt [2] Rui Soares (POR) 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 (50m)
[1] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [3] Rory Stewart (SCO) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (57m)

Women’s Semi-Finals
Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) 3-1: 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (44m)
[2] Lisa Aitken (SCO) bt [7] Georgia Adderley (SCO) 3-1: 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9 (50m)

Men’s Quarter-Finals
[2] Rui Soares (POR) bt [6] Joshua Masters (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 15-13 (46m)
[8] Sam Todd (ENG) bt [4] Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-2: 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 (62m)
[3] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt [5] Connor Sheen (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (31m)
[1] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [7] Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 (54m)

Women’s Quarter-Finals
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt [8] Faiza Zafar (PAK) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 (23m)
Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [4] Alison Thomson (SCO) 3-0: 11-7, 11-1, 11-1 (29m)
[7] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt [3] Anna Kimberley (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Lisa Aitken (SCO) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3 (31m)

Men’s Round One
[2] Rui Soares (POR) bt Josh Attwell (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 (21m)
[6] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt Phil Nightingale (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)
[8] Sam Todd (ENG) bt John Meehan (SCO) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 11-8 (30m)
[4] Sean Conroy (IRL) bt Vini Rodrigues (BRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 12-10 (34m)
[3] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (41m)
[5] Connor Sheen (ENG) bt Jordan Warne (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-8 (24m)
[7] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt Harry Falconer (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4 (50m)
[1] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [WC] Hasnaat Farooqi (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-5 (29m)

Women’s Round One
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Sanne Veldkamp (NED) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-5 (22m)
[8] Faiza Zafar (PAK) bt Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (ITA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (26m)
Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [5] Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-2 (26m)
[4] Alison Thomson (SCO) bt Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-2: 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3 (46m)
[3] Anna Kimberley (ENG) bt [WC] Margot Prow (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (31m)
[7] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Katriona Allen (SCO) 3-0: 11-0, 11-2, 11-2 (18m)
Grace Gear (ENG) bt [6] Kace Bartley (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5 (31m)
[2] Lisa Aitken (SCO) bt Charlotte Jagger (ENG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-3 (16m)