Blue Gray Championships
Blue Gray Championships | |
---|---|
Defunct tennis tournament | |
Tour | ILTF World Circuit (1954–70) |
Founded | 1949 |
Abolished | 1978 |
Location | Montgomery, United States |
Venue | Montgomery 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]
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]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]- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Donald Kaiser: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Wade Herren: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Henry Jungle: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "BLUE-GRAY TENNIS: Amaya Defeats Vann". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, georgia: newspapers.com. 9 Jun 1974. p. 85. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Butch Walts wins". The Peninsula Times Tribune. Pal Alto, California: newspapers.com. 16 Jun 1975. p. 23. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Warren Eber: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Eber wins Blue-Gray". The Columbus Ledger. Columbus, Georgia: newspapers.com. 26 Jun 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricardo Balbiers Cops Blue-Gray Net Crown". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama: newspapers.com. 19 Jun 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Jean Clarke (USA) – Ladies' Singles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nelson, Whaling Beaten in Semis". The Austin American. Austin, Texas: newspapers.com. 10 Jun 1973. p. 67. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Blue-Gray Tourney". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida: newspapers.com. 10 Jun 1974. p. 30. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "TENNIS: Blue-Gray Tennis Championships". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California: newspapers.com. 15 Jun 1975. p. 45. Retrieved 13 January 2024.