The Blue Gray Championships was a men's and women's open international tennis tournament was founded in 1949. Also known as the Blue Gray Invitation the tournament was first played at the Montgomery Country Club, Montgomery, Alabama, United States. It was played annually until 1978 as an individual competition when it was discontinued. In 1984 it was revived as team only competition called the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic that is still active.
History The tournament was conceived by Jack Bushman the President of the Southern Lawn Tennis Association. In 1949 he established the event was based upon the Sugar Bowl Tennis Championships. This tournament was to be played before the Blue–Gray Football Classic was being held and first occurred in 1950. 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. The inaugural winners of the singles events were Jack Tuero (men) and Elinor Shaw (women). The tournament also featured doubles events.
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. 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. In 1978 the event was discontinued as an individual competition, however exhibition events under the brand name the Blue Gray Invitation 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. In 1984 the first edition of the rebranded Blue Gray National Tennis Classic was held.
Finals Notes: Where a runner up is not shown or the score sections have been blanked.
Men's singles YearWinnersRunners-upScore1949 Jack Tuero Herbert "Buddy" Behrens6–0, 6–2, 7–9, 9–11, 6–1.1950 Ricardo Balbiers Wade Herren6–4, 6–1, 6–2.1951 Jack Tuero (2) Tony Trabert9–7, 9–7, 0–6, 5–7, 6–1.1952 Don Kaiser Wade Herren6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 4–6, 7–51953 Ham Richardson Don Kaiser6–1, 6–2, 6–3.1954 Allen Morris José Agüero Umatino9–7, 6–4, 0–6, 6–4.1955 Eddie Moylan Allen Morris3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 15–13.1956 Wade Herren Johann Kupferburger4–6, 7–5, 6–0.1957 William Quillian Barry MacKay (tennis)6–4, 6–4, 6–4.1958 Gustavo Palafox Ronald Holmberg6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4.1959 Ronald Holmberg Gerald Moss6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4.1960 Crawford Henry Henry "Hank" Jungle7–5 6–4.1961 Myron Franks Billy Lenoir6–1, 8–6, 6–2.1962 Mike Belkin Norm Perry8–6, 4–6, 6–4.1963 Billy Lenoir Andrew Lloyd6–1, 2–6, 6–2.1964 Andrew Lloyd Robert Brien1–6, 6–3, 6–1.1965 J. W. Bitsy Harrison Bill Tym11–9, 6–2.1966 Tom Edlefsen Cliff Buchholz6–2, 6–3.1967 Mike Belkin (2) Herb Fitzgibbon9–11, 7–5, 6–2.1968 Joaquín Loyo-Mayo Vicente Zarazúa6–1, 6–1.↓ Open era ↓1970 Peter van Lingen Paul Gerken11–9 4–6 6–3.1971 Humphrey Hose Mike Belkin7–5 6–0 7–6.1972 Humphrey Hose (2) Fred McNair7–6, 6–7, 6–3.1973 Raz Reid Sashi Menon6–3, 7–6.1974 Victor Amaya Tim Vann 7–6, 5–7, 7–7. 1975 Butch Walts Fred DeJesus 6–4, 6–4. 1976 Terry Moor Nick Saviano6–4, 6–4.1977 Terry Moor (2) Marcelo Lara6–2, 6–3.1978 Warren Eber Eddie Edwards4–6, 7–6, 6–3. For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic
Women's singles (incomplete roll) YearWinnersRunners-upScore 1949 Elinor Shaw Ewing McAllester 6–4, 8–6 1950 Suzanne Herr Lucy Masterson3–6, 6–4, 6–4 1953 Jean Clarke Laura Lou Kunnen6–4, 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 Ramirez6–3, 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 Martin6–4, 7–5 1960 Susan Butt Linda Vail 6–2, 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 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 Laura duPont Kathy Kraft6–1, 6–2 1972 Pat Bostrom Beverly Barger6–4, 6–2 1973 Betsy Butler Susan Vinton6–4, 3–6, 6–2 1974 Linda Rupert Betsy Butler6–1, 6–4 1975 Beth Norton Candy Reynolds 6–2, 6–3 1977 Kate Latham Kathy Kuykendall 7–6, 6–2For the team event see Blue Gray National Tennis Classic
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