Blue Gray Championships

Blue Gray Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF World Circuit
(1954–70)
Founded1949 (1949)
Abolished1978 (1978)
LocationMontgomery, Alabama, United States
VenueMontgomery Country Club
Huntingdon College
Lagoon Park Tennis Center
O’Connor Tennis Center
SurfaceClay / outdoor

The Blue Gray Championships was a men's and women's open international tennis tournament was founded in 1949.[1] Also known as the Blue Gray Invitation the tournament was first played at the Montgomery Country Club, Montgomery, Alabama, United States.[2] It was played annually until 1978 as an individual competition when it was discontinued.[2] In 1984 it was revived as team only competition called the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic that is still active.[1]

History

The tournament was conceived by Jack Bushman the President of the Southern Lawn Tennis Association.[1] In 1949 he established the event was based upon the Sugar Bowl Tennis Championships.[1] This tournament was to be played before the Blue–Gray Football Classic was being held and first occurred in 1950.[1] The main difference between this event and the Sugar Bowl tennis event, it was to be an open international tournament for college (university) players rather than junior players.[1] The inaugural winners of the singles events were Jack Tuero (men) and Elinor Shaw (women).[1] The tournament also featured doubles events.[2]

The championships were held at the Montgomery Country Club from inception until 1968. In 1969 he moved location to Huntingdon College but was not held that year.[2] In 1973 it moved the Lagoon Park Tennis Center before moving to the O’Connor Tennis Center during the last few editions all of were in Montgomery, Alabama.[1] In 1978 the event was discontinued as an individual competition,[1] however exhibition events under the brand name the Blue Gray Invitation[2] continued to held. In 1983 the format for the tournament was a changed to become team only competition to be played as a lead up event to the NCAA Championships.[1] In 1984 the first edition of the rebranded Blue Gray National Tennis Classic was held.[1]

Finals

Notes: Where a runner up is not shown or the score sections have been blanked.

Men's singles

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1949[1] Jack Tuero Herbert "Buddy" Behrens 6–0, 6–2, 7–9, 9–11, 6–1.[2]
1950[1] Ricardo Balbiers Wade Herren 6–4, 6–1, 6–2.[2]
1951[1] Jack Tuero (2) Tony Trabert 9–7, 9–7, 0–6, 5–7, 6–1.[2]
1952[1] Don Kaiser[3] Wade Herren 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5
1953[1] Ham Richardson Don Kaiser 6–1, 6–2, 6–3.[2]
1954[1] Allen Morris José Agüero Umatino 9–7, 6–4, 0–6, 6–4.[2]
1955[1] Eddie Moylan Allen Morris 3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 15–13.[2]
1956[1] Wade Herren[4] Johann Kupferburger 4–6, 7–5, 6–0.[2]
1957[1] William Quillian Barry MacKay (tennis) 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[2]
1958[1] Gustavo Palafox Ronald Holmberg 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4.[2]
1959[1] Ronald Holmberg Gerald Moss 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4.[2]
1960[1] Crawford Henry Henry "Hank" Jungle[5] 7–5 6–4.[2]
1961[1] Myron Franks Billy Lenoir 6–1, 8–6, 6–2.[2]
1962[1] Mike Belkin Norm Perry 8–6, 4–6, 6–4.[2]
1963[1] Billy Lenoir Andrew Lloyd 6–1, 2–6, 6–2.[2]
1964[1] Andrew Lloyd Robert Brien 1–6, 6–3, 6–1.[2]
1965[1] J. W. Bitsy Harrison Bill Tym 11–9, 6–2.[2]
1966[1] Tom Edlefsen Cliff Buchholz 6–2, 6–3.[2]
1967[1] Mike Belkin (2) Herb Fitzgibbon 9–11, 7–5, 6–2.[2]
1968[1] Joaquín Loyo-Mayo Vicente Zarazúa 6–1, 6–1.[2]
↓  Open era  ↓
1970[1] Peter van Lingen Paul Gerken 11–9 4–6 6–3.[2]
1971[1] Humphrey Hose Mike Belkin 7–5 6–0 7–6.[2]
1972[1] Humphrey Hose (2) Fred McNair 7–6, 6–7, 6–3.[2]
1973[1] Raz Reid Sashi Menon 6–3, 7–6.[2]
1974[1] Victor Amaya Tim Vann 7–6, 5–7, 7–7.[6]
1975[1] Butch Walts Fred DeJesus 6–4, 6–4.[7]
1976[1] Terry Moor Nick Saviano 6–4, 6–4.[2]
1977[1] Terry Moor (2) Marcelo Lara 6–2, 6–3.[2]
1978[1] Warren Eber[8] Eddie Edwards 4–6, 7–6, 6–3.[9]
For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1949 Elinor Shaw Ewing McAllester 6–4, 8–6
1950[10] Suzanne Herr Lucy Masterson 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1953 Jean Clarke[11] Laura Lou Kunnen 6–4, 6–4
1954 Jean Clarke (2) Pat Stewart 6–3, 6–3
1955 Yola Ramirez Jean Clarke 7–9, 6–3, 6–3
1956 Karol Fageros Yola Ramirez 6–3, 6–3
1957 Owen McHaney Raymonde Veber Jones 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1958 Owen McHaney (2) Marta Hernández 8–6, 6–4
1959 Carol Hanks Marie Martin 6–4, 7–5
1960 Susan Butt Linda Vail 6–2, 6–2
1961 Roberta Alison Mary Habicht 6–4, 2–6, 6–1
1962 Roberta Alison (2) Mary Habicht 6–0, 6–3
1963 Justina Bricka Stephanie DeFina 3–6, 8–6, 6–2
1964 Roberta Alison (3) Becky Vest 6–0, 6–4
1965 Roberta Alison (4) Stephanie DeFina 3–6, 7–5, 6–0
1966 Becky Vest Linda Tuero 6–3, 2–6, 6–2
1968 Linda Tuero Emilie Burrer 6–0, 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
1970[12] Laura duPont Kathy Kraft 6–1, 6–2
1972 Pat Bostrom Beverly Barger 6–4, 6–2
1973[13] Betsy Butler Susan Vinton 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1974[14] Linda Rupert Betsy Butler 6–1, 6–4
1975[15] Beth Norton Candy Reynolds 6–2, 6–3
1977 Kate Latham Kathy Kuykendall 7–6, 6–2
For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "History". www.bluegraytennis.com. Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Tournaments: Blue Gray Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Donald Kaiser: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Wade Herren: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Henry Jungle: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  6. ^ "BLUE-GRAY TENNIS: Amaya Defeats Vann". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, georgia: newspapers.com. 9 Jun 1974. p. 85. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Butch Walts wins". The Peninsula Times Tribune. Pal Alto, California: newspapers.com. 16 Jun 1975. p. 23. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Warren Eber: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Eber wins Blue-Gray". The Columbus Ledger. Columbus, Georgia: newspapers.com. 26 Jun 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Ricardo Balbiers Cops Blue-Gray Net Crown". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama: newspapers.com. 19 Jun 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Jean Clarke (USA) – Ladies' Singles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. ^ Hudson, John (15 Jun 1970). "Van Lingen Captures B-G Net Championship". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama: newspapers.com. p. 13. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Nelson, Whaling Beaten in Semis". The Austin American. Austin, Texas: newspapers.com. 10 Jun 1973. p. 67. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Blue-Gray Tourney". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida: newspapers.com. 10 Jun 1974. p. 30. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. ^ "TENNIS: Blue-Gray Tennis Championships". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California: newspapers.com. 15 Jun 1975. p. 45. Retrieved 13 January 2024.