Blue Gray Championships

Last updated
Blue Gray Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Tour ILTF World Circuit
(1954–70)
Founded1949;76 years ago (1949)
Abolished1978;47 years ago (1978)
Location Montgomery, Alabama, United States
VenueMontgomery Country Club
Huntingdon College
Lagoon Park Tennis Center
O’Connor Tennis Center
Surface Clay / 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]

Contents

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

YearWinnersRunners-upScore
1949 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Jack Tuero Flag of the United States.svg Herbert "Buddy" Behrens6–0, 6–2, 7–9, 9–11, 6–1. [2]
1950 [1] Flag of Chile.svg Ricardo Balbiers Flag of the United States.svg Wade Herren6–4, 6–1, 6–2. [2]
1951 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Jack Tuero (2) Flag of the United States.svg Tony Trabert 9–7, 9–7, 0–6, 5–7, 6–1. [2]
1952 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Don Kaiser [3] Flag of the United States.svg Wade Herren6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5
1953 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Ham Richardson Flag of the United States.svg Don Kaiser 6–1, 6–2, 6–3. [2]
1954 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Allen Morris Flag of Brazil.svg José Agüero Umatino 9–7, 6–4, 0–6, 6–4. [2]
1955 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Moylan Flag of the United States.svg Allen Morris 3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 15–13. [2]
1956 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Wade Herren [4] Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Johann Kupferburger 4–6, 7–5, 6–0. [2]
1957 [1] Flag of the United States.svg William Quillian Flag of the United States.svg Barry MacKay (tennis) 6–4, 6–4, 6–4. [2]
1958 [1] Flag of Mexico.svg Gustavo Palafox Flag of the United States.svg Ronald Holmberg 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4. [2]
1959 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Ronald Holmberg Flag of the United States.svg Gerald Moss 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4. [2]
1960 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Crawford Henry Flag of the United States.svg Henry "Hank" Jungle [5] 7–5 6–4. [2]
1961 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Myron Franks Flag of the United States.svg Billy Lenoir 6–1, 8–6, 6–2. [2]
1962 [1] Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mike Belkin Flag of the United States.svg Norm Perry 8–6, 4–6, 6–4. [2]
1963 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Billy Lenoir Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Lloyd 6–1, 2–6, 6–2. [2]
1964 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Lloyd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert Brien 1–6, 6–3, 6–1. [2]
1965 [1] Flag of the United States.svg J. W. Bitsy Harrison Flag of the United States.svg Bill Tym 11–9, 6–2. [2]
1966 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Tom Edlefsen Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Buchholz 6–2, 6–3. [2]
1967 [1] Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mike Belkin (2) Flag of the United States.svg Herb Fitzgibbon 9–11, 7–5, 6–2. [2]
1968 [1] Flag of Mexico.svg Joaquín Loyo-Mayo Flag of Mexico.svg Vicente Zarazúa 6–1, 6–1. [2]
↓  Open era  ↓
1970 [1] Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Peter van Lingen Flag of the United States.svg Paul Gerken 11–9 4–6 6–3. [2]
1971 [1] Flag of Venezuela.svg Humphrey Hose Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mike Belkin 7–5 6–0 7–6. [2]
1972 [1] Flag of Venezuela.svg Humphrey Hose (2) Flag of the United States.svg Fred McNair 7–6, 6–7, 6–3. [2]
1973 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Raz Reid Flag of India.svg Sashi Menon 6–3, 7–6. [2]
1974 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Victor Amaya Flag of the United States.svg Tim Vann7–6, 5–7, 7–7. [6]
1975 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Butch Walts Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Fred DeJesus6–4, 6–4. [7]
1976 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Terry Moor Flag of the United States.svg Nick Saviano 6–4, 6–4. [2]
1977 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Terry Moor (2) Flag of Mexico.svg Marcelo Lara 6–2, 6–3. [2]
1978 [1] Flag of the United States.svg Warren Eber [8] Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Eddie Edwards 4–6, 7–6, 6–3. [9]
For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearWinnersRunners-upScore
1949 Flag of the United States.svg Elinor Shaw Flag of the United States.svg Ewing McAllester6–4, 8–6
1950 [10] Flag of the United States.svg Suzanne Herr Flag of the United States.svg Lucy Masterson3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1953 Flag of the United States.svg Jean Clarke [11] Flag of the United States.svg Laura Lou Kunnen6–4, 6–4
1954 Flag of the United States.svg Jean Clarke (2) Flag of the United States.svg Pat Stewart 6–3, 6–3
1955 Flag of Mexico.svg Yola Ramirez Flag of the United States.svg Jean Clarke7–9, 6–3, 6–3
1956 Flag of the United States.svg Karol Fageros Flag of Mexico.svg Yola Ramirez 6–3, 6–3
1957 Flag of the United States.svg Owen McHaney Flag of France.svg Raymonde Veber Jones 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1958 Flag of the United States.svg Owen McHaney (2) Flag of Mexico.svg Marta Hernández 8–6, 6–4
1959 Flag of the United States.svg Carol Hanks Flag of Australia (converted).svg Marie Martin 6–4, 7–5
1960 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Susan Butt Flag of the United States.svg Linda Vail6–2, 6–2
1961 Flag of the United States.svg Roberta Alison Flag of Brazil.svg Mary Habicht 6–4, 2–6, 6–1
1962 Flag of the United States.svg Roberta Alison (2) Flag of Brazil.svg Mary Habicht 6–0, 6–3
1963 Flag of the United States.svg Justina Bricka Flag of the United States.svg Stephanie DeFina 3–6, 8–6, 6–2
1964 Flag of the United States.svg Roberta Alison (3) Flag of the United States.svg Becky Vest 6–0, 6–4
1965 Flag of the United States.svg Roberta Alison (4) Flag of the United States.svg Stephanie DeFina 3–6, 7–5, 6–0
1966 Flag of the United States.svg Becky Vest Flag of the United States.svg Linda Tuero 6–3, 2–6, 6–2
1968 Flag of the United States.svg Linda Tuero Flag of the United States.svg Emilie Burrer 6–0, 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
1970 [12] Flag of the United States.svg Laura duPont Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Kraft6–1, 6–2
1972 Flag of the United States.svg Pat Bostrom Flag of the United States.svg Beverly Barger6–4, 6–2
1973 [13] Flag of the United States.svg Betsy Butler Flag of the United States.svg Susan Vinton 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1974 [14] Flag of the United States.svg Linda Rupert Flag of the United States.svg Betsy Butler6–1, 6–4
1975 [15] Flag of the United States.svg Beth Norton Flag of the United States.svg Candy Reynolds 6–2, 6–3
1977 Flag of the United States.svg Kate Latham Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Kuykendall 7–6, 6–2
For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 "History". www.bluegraytennis.com. Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 "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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