Wikipedia

Blue Gray Championships

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 discontinues.[2] In 1984 it was revived as team only competition called the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic that is still active.[1]

Blue Gray Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF World Circuit
(1954–70)
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949)
Abolished1978; 46 years ago (1978)
LocationMontgomery, United States
VenueMontgomery Country Club
Huntingdon College
Lagoon Park Tennis Center
O’Connor Tennis Center
SurfaceClay / outdoor

History edit

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 edit

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

Men's singles edit

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 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]   John Waller (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 edit

(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 edit

  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.
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