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 (1949)
Abolished1978 (1978)
LocationMontgomery, United States
VenueMontgomery Country Club
Huntingdon College
Lagoon Park Tennis Center
O’Connor Tennis Center
SurfaceClay / outdoor

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" Behrens6–0, 6–2, 7–9, 9–11, 6–1.[2]
1950[1] Ricardo Balbiers Wade Herren6–4, 6–1, 6–2.[2]
1951[1] Jack Tuero (2) Tony Trabert9–7, 9–7, 0–6, 5–7, 6–1.[2]
1952[1] Don Kaiser[3] Wade Herren6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5
1953[1] Ham Richardson Don Kaiser6–1, 6–2, 6–3.[2]
1954[1] Allen Morris José Agüero Umatino9–7, 6–4, 0–6, 6–4.[2]
1955[1] Eddie Moylan Allen Morris3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 15–13.[2]
1956[1] Wade Herren[4] Johann Kupferburger4–6, 7–5, 6–0.[2]
1957[1] William Quillian Barry MacKay6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[2]
1958[1] Gustavo Palafox Ronald Holmberg6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4.[2]
1959[1] Ronald Holmberg Gerald Moss6–4, 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 Lenoir6–1, 8–6, 6–2.[2]
1962[1] Mike Belkin Norm Perry8–6, 4–6, 6–4.[2]
1963[1] Billy Lenoir Andrew Lloyd6–1, 2–6, 6–2.[2]
1964[1] Andrew Lloyd Robert Brien1–6, 6–3, 6–1.[2]
1965[1] John Waller (Bitsy) Harrison Bill Tym11–9, 6–2.[2]
1966[1] Tom Edlefsen Cliff Buchholz6–2, 6–3.[2]
1967[1] Mike Belkin (2) Herb Fitzgibbon9–11, 7–5, 6–2.[2]
1968[1] Joaquín Loyo-Mayo Vicente Zarazúa6–1, 6–1.[2]
↓  Open era  ↓
1970[1] Peter van Lingen Paul Gerken11–9 4–6 6–3.[2]
1971[1] Humphrey Hose Mike Belkin7–5 6–0 7–6.[2]
1972[1] Humphrey Hose (2) Fred McNair7–6, 6–7, 6–3.[2]
1973[1] Raz Reid Sashi Menon6–3, 7–6.[2]
1974[1] Victor Amaya Tim Vann7–6, 5–7, 7–7.[6]
1975[1] Butch Walts Fred DeJesus6–4, 6–4.[7]
1976[1] Terry Moor Nick Saviano6–4, 6–4.[2]
1977[1] Terry Moor (2) Marcelo Lara6–2, 6–3.[2]
1978[1] Warren Eber[8] Eddie Edwards4–6, 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 McAllester6–4, 8–6
1950[10] Suzanne Herr Lucy Masterson3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1953 Jean Clarke[11] Laura Lou Kunnen6–4, 6–4
1954 Jean Clarke (2) Pat Stewart6–3, 6–3
1955 Yola Ramirez Jean Clarke7–9, 6–3, 6–3
1956 Karol Fageros Yola Ramirez6–3, 6–3
1957 Owen McHaney Raymonde Veber Jones6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1958 Owen McHaney (2) Marta Hernández8–6, 6–4
1959 Carol Hanks Marie Martin6–4, 7–5
1960 Susan Butt Linda Vail6–2, 6–2
1961 Roberta Alison Mary Habicht6–4, 2–6, 6–1
1962 Roberta Alison (2) Mary Habicht6–0, 6–3
1963 Justina Bricka Stephanie DeFina3–6, 8–6, 6–2
1964 Roberta Alison (3) Becky Vest6–0, 6–4
1965 Roberta Alison (4) Stephanie DeFina3–6, 7–5, 6–0
1966 Becky Vest Linda Tuero6–3, 2–6, 6–2
1968 Linda Tuero Emilie Burrer6–0, 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
1970[12] Laura duPont Kathy Kraft6–1, 6–2
1972 Pat Bostrom Beverly Barger6–4, 6–2
1973[13] Betsy Butler Susan Vinton6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1974[14] Linda Rupert Betsy Butler6–1, 6–4
1975[15] Beth Norton Candy Reynolds6–2, 6–3
1977 Kate Latham Kathy Kuykendall7–6, 6–2
For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

References
  1. "History". www.bluegraytennis.com. Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  2. "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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