Southern California Championships

Tennis tournament

Southern California Championships

Defunct tennis tournament
Founded| 1887
Abolished| 1977 (men)
1979 (women)
Editions| 93 (men)
95 (women)
Location| Riverside (1887)
combined
Santa Monica (1888–1903) combined
South Pasadena (1904)
combined
Long Beach (1905–1915)
combined
Los Angeles II (1919–1979)
Surface| Asphalt / outdoor
Hard / outdoor

The Southern California Championships and was a men's and women's hard court tennis tournament founded in 1887 as a joint men's & women's event.[1]

The men's event ran until 1977, whilst the women's event continued till 1979.

It was held at various locations including Riverside (1887), then Santa Monica (1888–1903), then South Pasadena (1904), then Long Beach (1905–1920) and finally Los Angeles (1920–1979).

This event carried the tour designation Los Angeles II, whilst Los Angeles I referred to the Pacific Southwest Championships/Los Angeles Open

## History

[edit]

On 19 March 1887, the Southern California Lawn Tennis Association was formed with the Hon. James Bettner as its first president.[2] The Southern California Championships were founded in March 1887 and first staged on asphalt courts at the Casa Blanca Club, Riverside, California.[3][4][5] In August 1887 a second tournament was organized that was won by William Henry Young after which the event would be played in the last week of August.[6] In 1888 the tournament moved to the Santa Monica Casino courts, where it remained until 1903.[7] The tournament alternated between different locations throughout its run.

In 1968, at the start of the Open era, it became an open event. The men's event remained known as the Southern California Championships until 1977 and was part of the Grand Prix Tennis circuit tour. The women's event continued as the Southern California Championships officially until 1979.

### Men's event

[edit]

The inaugural men's tournament was won by Canadian born later American citizen William Henry Young who defeated Mr C. Trevelia in the All Comer's Final.[8][9] In 1968 the event became part of the International Tennis Federation independent tour. In 1970 the event became part of the Grand Prix Tennis Circuit tour until 1977. The final tournament was won by the Mexican player Raúl Ramírez who defeated the American player Brian Gottfried.[10]

### Women's event

[edit]

The inaugural women's tournament was won by the American player Miss Fannie Shoemaker who defeated a Miss Dexter in the All Comer's Final.[11]

In 1979 the final women's event was held that was won by Kelly Henry who defeated Lea Antonoplis.

## Locations

[edit]

The tournament was staged in different cities for the duration of its run they included:

Venue | City | Years

|
|

Casa Blanca Club.[12][13] | Riverside | 1887
Santa Monica Casino Courts.[14] | Santa Monica[15] | 1888 – 1903
| South Pasadena | 1904
Hotel Virginia. | Long Beach | 1905 – 1915
Los Angeles Tennis Club | Los Angeles | 1919 – 1977

## Finals

[edit]

### Men's singles

[edit]

Included:[16]

Year | Location | Champion | Runner-up | Score

|
|
|
|

1887 | Riverside |  William Henry Young |  C. Trevelia | [17]
1887 | Santa Monica |  William Henry Young (2) |  R. L. Bettner | [18]
1888 |  Robert Peyton Carter |  William Henry Young | w.o.[19]
1889 |  Robert Peyton Carter (2) |  A. Q. Twiss | 6–3, 6–3, 6–3.[20]
1890 |  Robert Peyton Carter (3) |  Kenneth (Ken) Carter | [21]
1891 |  Theodore Coulter |  Robert Peyton Carter | w.o.[22]
1892 |  Robert Peyton Carter (4) |  Theodore Coulter | w.o.[23]
1893 |  Robert Peyton Carter (5) |  Martin A. Chase | 6–0, 6–2, 7–5.[24]
1894 |  Robert Peyton Carter (6) |  Arthur William Bumiller | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
1895 |  Arthur William Bumiller |  Robert Peyton Carter | w.o.
1896 |  Lewis Ransome Freeman |  Arthur William Bumiller | 6–3, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2
1897 |  Lewis Ransome Freeman (2) |  John Cravens | 6–1, 6–1, 6–3
1898 |  Lewis Ransome Freeman (3) |  Oliver Richer | 6–1, 3–6, 6–1, 6–1
1899 |  Sumner Hardy |  Lewis Ransome Freeman | w.o.
1900 |  Alphonzo Bell Sr. | ? | ?
1901 |  Alphonzo Bell Sr. (2) |  Reuben Gay Hunt | 6–2, 6–1, 6–0
1902 |  Lewis Ransome Freeman (4) |  Alphonzo Bell Sr. | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
1903 |  Alphonzo Bell Sr. (3) |  Lewis Ransome Freeman | w.o.
1904 | Pasadena |  Eugene Overton |  Alphonzo Bell Sr. | w.o.
1905 | Los Angeles |  Eugene Overton (2) |  Robert Henry Fauntleroy Variel jr | 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2
1906 |  Harold Hyde Braly Sr. |  Nathaniel Borrodaille (Nat) Browne | 7–5, 0–6, 6–4, 6–3
1907 |  Melville H. Long |  |
1908 | Long Beach |  Tom Bundy |  Melville H. Long | w.o.
1909 |  Wynn Mace |  Tom Bundy | w.o.
1910 |  Wynn Mace (2) |  Nathaniel Borrodaille (Nat) Browne | 10–8, 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4
1911 |  Henry Ward Dawson |  Wynn Mace | 6–0, 6–1, 2–6, 6–2
1912 |  Paul Hardeman |  William Amos Horrell | 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
1913 |  Tom Bundy (2) |  Willis Davis | 6–1, 4–6, 12–10, 6–4
1914 |  Henry Ward Dawson |  Alphonzo Bell Sr. | 6–0, 6–2
1915 |  Roland Roberts |  Tom Bundy | 3–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1919 | Los Angeles |  Howard Kinsey | ? | ?
1920 |  Robert Kinsey |  Harvey Burton Snodgrass | 6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1921 |  Henry Parker | ? | ?
1922 |  Harvey Snodgrass |  Clifton Bradford Herd | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
1923 |  Manuel Alonso Areizaga |  Ray Casey | 7–5, 6–4
1924 |  Bill Tilden |  Alfred H. Chapin Jr. | ?
1925 |  Alan Herrington |  Craig Biddle | 6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1926 |  Benjamin Gorchakoff | ? | ?
1927 |  Gerald Stratford | ? | ?
1928 |  Ben Gorchakoff (2) |  Clinton Herd | 6–2, 6–3 [25]
1929 |  John Doeg |  Ben Gorchakoff | 7–9, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2
1930 |  Ellsworth Vines |  Keith Gledhill | 6–2, 6–2, 6–2
1931 |  Ellsworth Vines (2) |  Alan David Herrington | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1
1932 |  Lester Stoefen |  Jack Tidball | 6–4, 6–3, 18–16 [26]
1933 |  Gene Mako |  Keith Gledhill | 0–6, 6–1, 6–3, 5–7, 6–0
1934 |  Jack Tidball |  Elbert Raymond Lewis | 3–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4
1935 |  Frank Shields |  Gerald Porter Bartosh | 6–4, 6–1, 6–0
1936 |  Bobby Riggs |  Charles Carr | 6–4, 6–1, 7–5
1937 |  Bobby Riggs (2) |  Frank Shields | 6–1, 7–5, 6–2
1938 |  Joe Hunt |  Jack Kramer | 2–6, 6–2, 6–1, 7–5
1939 |  Frank Parker |  Gene Mako | w.o.
1940 |  Ted Schroeder |  Owen Anderson | 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 7–5
1941 |  Frank Parker |  Ted Schroeder | 6–4, 6–2, 6–0
1942 |  Jack Kramer |  Frank Parker | 6–2, 6–2, 11–9
1943 |  Bob Falkenburg |  George Druliner | 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2 [27]
1944 |  Jack Kramer (2) |  Frank Parker | 8–6, 8–6, 6–3
1945 |  Elwood Cooke |  William Reedy | 6–2, 3–6, 6–0 [28]
1946 |  Jack Kramer (3) |  Frank Parker | 8–6, 6–1, 9–7
1947 |  Jack Kramer (4) |  Frank Parker | 4–6, 2–6, 11–9, 6–2, 7–5
1948 |  Ted Schroeder (2) |  Bob Falkenburg | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 12–10
1949 |  Ted Schroeder (3) |  Pancho Gonzales | 6–1, 6–0, 6–2
1950 |  Tom Brown |  Bob Falkenburg | 5–7, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1951 |  Art Larsen |  Ted Schroeder | 6–8, 7–5, 7–5, 6–3
1952 |  Art Larsen (2) |  Tom Brown | 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1953 |  Tony Trabert |  Art Larsen | 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1954 |  Herbert Flam |  Hugh Stewart | 6–1, 4–6, 6–1, 9–7
1955 |  Tony Trabert (2) |  Gilbert Shea | 6–1, 6–1, 7–5
1956 |  Gilbert Shea |  Michael Green | 6–1, 8–6, 2–6, 6–2
1957 |  Alex Olmedo |  Herbert Flam | 6–1, 6–3
1958 |  Herbert Flam |  Alex Olmedo | 8–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1959 |  Mike Franks |  Alex Olmedo | 6–4, 3–6, 0–6, 12–10, 7–5
1960 |  Dennis Ralston |  Rafael Osuna | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1961 |  Luis Alberto Ayala |  Allen Fox | 9–7, 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6
1962 |  Rafael Osuna |  Allen Fox | 6–2, 5–7, 8–6, 6–2
1963 |  Dennis Ralston (2) |  Rafael Osuna | 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1964 |  Dennis Ralston (3) |  Arthur Ashe | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4
1965 |  Dennis Ralston (4) |  Arthur Ashe | 8–6, 6–2
1966 |  Arthur Ashe |  Stan Smith | 6–4, 6–2
1967 |  Stan Smith |  Allen Fox | 7–5, 13-11
1968 |  Stan Smith (2) |  Dick Leach | 6–3, 6–4
1969 |  Stan Smith (3) |  Bob Lutz | 6–3, 6–4
1970 |  Erik van Dillen |  Allen Fox | 6–2, 6–1
1971 |  Pancho Gonzales |  Jimmy Connors | 3–6, 6–3, 6–3.[29]
1972 |  Pancho Gonzales (2) |  Alex Olmedo | 6–3, 6–2
1973 |  Bob Kreiss |  Jeff Austin | 7–6, 1–6, 7–6
1974 |  Billy Martin |  Gene Malin | 7–6, 6–3
1975 |  Brian Teacher |  Joao Soares | 6–2, 6–4
1976 |  Charles (Buzz) Strode |  Eliot Teltscher | 6–0, 7–6
1977 |  Raúl Ramírez |  Brian Gottfried | 7–5, 3–6, 6–4

## See also

[edit]

* Pacific Southwest Championships – tournament held in Los Angeles from 1927 through 2012.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tournament – Southern California Championship". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
2. ^ "Tennis Tournaments". Los Angeles Herald. No. 128\. Los Angeles, California, United States. 17 August 1894. p. 5.
3. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
4. ^ Ingersoll, Luther A. (1908). "XI: Outdoor Past Times". Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: prefaced with a brief history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County, 1542 to 1908. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County CA Archives.
5. ^ "Edition – Southern California Championship 1887". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
6. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
7. ^ Ingersoll
8. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
9. ^ Yeoman's, Patricia Henry (1987). Southern California Tennis Champions Centennial, 1887-1987: Documents & Anecdotes. Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. pp. 13–14, 16–18\. ISBN 9780960662807.
10. ^ "Los Angeles Results ATP Tour 1977". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
11. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
12. ^ Tennis Archives
13. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
14. ^ Ingersoll
15. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
16. ^ "Tournament – Southern California Championships: Mens Roll". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
17. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
18. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
19. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
20. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
21. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
22. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
23. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
24. ^ Los Angeles Herald (1894)
25. ^ "Southern California tennis tourney ends". Hanford Sentinel. May 21, 1928. p. 5.
26. ^ "Tall blond star wins hard-fought net duel". Pasadena Post. May 16, 1932. p. 8.
27. ^ "Falkenburg Southern California champion". The Spokesman Review. June 8, 1943. p. 11.
28. ^ "Nancy Chaffee wins two So. Cal. titles". Ventura County Star. May 28, 1945. p. 6.
29. ^ "Los Angeles Results Grand Prix Tour 1971". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

## Sources

[edit]

* Ingersoll, Luther A. (1908). "XI: Outdoor Past Times". Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: prefaced with a brief history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County, 1542 to 1908. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County CA Archives.
* Los Angeles Herald, Volume 42, Number 128, 17 August 1894: Center for Biographical Studies and Research: California Digital Newspapers Collection.
* Yeoman's, Patricia Henry (1987). Southern California Tennis Champions Centennial, 1887-1987: Documents & Anecdotes. Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. ISBN 9780960662807.