Gold Glitters at APP Women’s Open: Braverman, Fudge, Walzcak, Whitwell, Sewing Triumph

The second annual Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tour Women’s Open, presented by The James, wrapped up after three days of high-energy matches and standout performances. This year’s event took place at Pickle N Chill in Columbus, Ohio, and paid tribute to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The tournament ran for three days and featured Women’s Singles, Split Age Pro, and Pro Women’s Doubles matches. There’s a lot to talk about—let’s get into the highlights and some moments that really stuck with us.

Women’s Singles: Sofia Sewing Dominates

The Women’s Singles event started things off on Friday. Sofia Sewing, who’d already snagged five singles gold medals this year, took center stage.

She faced off against Shannon Pretorius, last year’s champ, in the finals. Sewing came out strong, taking the first game 15-4 with rally scoring.

Pretorius tried to rally in the second game, but after a tough fall and a medical timeout, she just couldn’t keep the momentum. Sewing closed it out 15-8, picking up her sixth singles title of the year.

Jessica Warren’s Grit Earns Bronze

Jessica Warren’s run to the bronze medal was honestly impressive. She dropped her first-round match to Elina Geut but didn’t let that stop her.

Warren fought her way through the backdraw, beating Susannah Barr, then getting revenge on Geut, and finally overcoming Daria Walzcak for the bronze. Her determination and grit made her one of the tournament’s most memorable players.

Pro Women’s Doubles: Whitwell and Walzcak Shine

Sunday brought the Pro Women’s Doubles bracket, and things got intense. Lee Whitwell and Daria Walzcak grabbed gold after a wild final against Shelby Bates and Cantillon Endara.

The scores bounced around—11-8, 7-11, then a dominant 11-1 finish. Whitwell, a senior pro standout, even joked about Walzcak’s forehand after their win. Gotta love that energy.

Whitwell’s Triple Crown

Lee Whitwell had a weekend for the books. She pulled off a triple crown, winning Split Age Pro, AARP Champions (50+) Women’s Doubles with Angela Simon, and AARP Champions Women’s Singles.

That’s a serious statement—she’s cemented herself as a powerhouse in senior pro women’s pickleball.

Split Age Pro: Competitive and Exciting

The Split Age Pro event on Saturday brought a different vibe. It’s a less common format in pickleball and, honestly, it’s a fan favorite for a reason.

The gold medal match was a battle between Jill Braverman and Megan Fudge versus Sofia Sewing and Shelby Bates. Braverman and Fudge came out on top, winning 11-4, dropping the second 2-11, and then sealing it 11-6.

This win tied up the series between the two pairs at 2-2, adding a little extra drama to the rivalry.

Bronze Medal Match

Megan Fudge and Angela Simon took home the bronze in the Split Age category. Their run just added to the weekend’s excitement and showed off the depth of talent on the APP Tour.

Looking Ahead: The Fort and AARP Open

The APP Tour keeps rolling with the upcoming AARP Open at The Fort. Qualifying rounds kick off Wednesday, and pro singles get underway Thursday.

Fans and players are buzzing about what’s next for this wild pickleball season. There’s just a different kind of energy in the air leading up to these matches.

For more updates and in-depth coverage, check out The Dink Pickleball.