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.

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 On 19 March 1887, the Southern California Lawn Tennis Association was formed with the Hon. James Bettner as its first president. The Southern California Championships were founded in March 1887 and first staged on asphalt courts at the Casa Blanca Club, Riverside, California.Los Angeles Herald (1894) 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.Los Angeles Herald (1894) In 1888 the tournament moved to the Santa Monica Casino courts, where it remained until 1903.Ingersoll 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 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.Los Angeles Herald (1894) 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.

Women's event 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.Los Angeles Herald (1894)

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

Locations The tournament was staged in different cities for the duration of its run they included: Venue City YearsCasa Blanca Club.Tennis ArchivesLos Angeles Herald (1894)Riverside1887Santa Monica Casino Courts.IngersollSanta MonicaLos Angeles Herald (1894)1888 – 1903 South Pasadena1904Hotel Virginia.Long Beach 1905 – 1915 Los Angeles Tennis ClubLos Angeles 1919 – 1977

Finals Men's singles Included: Year Location Champion Runner-up Score1887 Riverside William Henry Young C. TreveliaLos Angeles Herald (1894) 1887 Santa Monica William Henry Young (2) R. L. BettnerLos Angeles Herald (1894) 1888 Robert Peyton Carter William Henry Youngw.o.Los Angeles Herald (1894) 1889 Robert Peyton Carter (2) A. Q. Twiss6–3, 6–3, 6–3.Los Angeles Herald (1894)1890 Robert Peyton Carter (3) Kenneth (Ken) Carter Los Angeles Herald (1894) 1891 Theodore Coulter Robert Peyton Carter w.o.Los Angeles Herald (1894) 1892 Robert Peyton Carter (4) Theodore Coulterw.o.Los Angeles Herald (1894) 1893 Robert Peyton Carter (5) Martin A. Chase6–0, 6–2, 7–5.Los Angeles Herald (1894) 1894 Robert Peyton Carter (6) Arthur William Bumiller6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 7–51895 Arthur William Bumiller Robert Peyton Carterw.o. 1896 Lewis Ransome Freeman Arthur William Bumiller6–3, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 1897 Lewis Ransome Freeman (2) John Cravens6–1, 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 Hunt6–2, 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 jr6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 1906 Harold Hyde Braly Sr. Nathaniel Borrodaille (Nat) Browne7–5, 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) Browne10–8, 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 1911 Henry Ward Dawson Wynn Mace6–0, 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 1912 Paul Hardeman William Amos Horrell6–4, 6–2, 6–4 1913 Tom Bundy (2) Willis Davis6–1, 4–6, 12–10, 6–4 1914 Henry Ward Dawson Alphonzo Bell Sr.6–0, 6–2 1915 Roland Roberts Tom Bundy3–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 1919Los Angeles Howard Kinsey?? 1920 Robert Kinsey Harvey 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 Casey7–5, 6–4 1924 Bill Tilden Alfred H. Chapin Jr. ? 1925 Alan Herrington Craig Biddle6–3, 6–2, 6–2 1926 Benjamin Gorchakoff? ? 1927 Gerald Stratford? ? 1928 Ben Gorchakoff (2) Clinton Herd 6–2, 6–3 1929 John Doeg Ben Gorchakoff7–9, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 1930 Ellsworth Vines Keith Gledhill6–2, 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 1933 Gene Mako Keith Gledhill0–6, 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 Bartosh6–4, 6–1, 6–0 1936 Bobby Riggs Charles Carr 6–4, 6–1, 7–5 1937 Bobby Riggs (2) Frank Shields6–1, 7–5, 6–2 1938 Joe Hunt Jack Kramer2–6, 6–2, 6–1, 7–5 1939 Frank Parker Gene Makow.o. 1940 Ted Schroeder Owen Anderson 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 7–5 1941 Frank Parker Ted Schroeder6–4, 6–2, 6–0 1942 Jack Kramer Frank Parker6–2, 6–2, 11–9 1943 Bob Falkenburg George Druliner 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2 1944 Jack Kramer (2) Frank Parker8–6, 8–6, 6–3 1945 Elwood Cooke William Reedy6–2, 3–6, 6–0 1946 Jack Kramer (3) Frank Parker8–6, 6–1, 9–7 1947 Jack Kramer (4) Frank Parker4–6, 2–6, 11–9, 6–2, 7–51948 Ted Schroeder (2) Bob Falkenburg6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 12–10 1949 Ted Schroeder (3) Pancho Gonzales6–1, 6–0, 6–2 1950 Tom Brown Bob Falkenburg5–7, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1951 Art Larsen Ted Schroeder6–8, 7–5, 7–5, 6–3 1952 Art Larsen (2) Tom Brown6–2, 6–4, 6–3 1953 Tony Trabert Art Larsen6–3, 6–3, 6–3 1954 Herbert Flam Hugh Stewart 6–1, 4–6, 6–1, 9–7 1955 Tony Trabert (2) Gilbert Shea6–1, 6–1, 7–5 1956 Gilbert Shea Michael Green6–1, 8–6, 2–6, 6–21957 Alex Olmedo Herbert Flam6–1, 6–3 1958 Herbert Flam Alex Olmedo8–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 1959 Mike Franks Alex Olmedo6–4, 3–6, 0–6, 12–10, 7–5 1960 Dennis Ralston Rafael Osuna6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 1961 Luis Alberto Ayala Allen Fox9–7, 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 Osuna6–3, 6–4, 6–4 1964 Dennis Ralston (3) Arthur Ashe6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 1965 Dennis Ralston (4) Arthur Ashe8–6, 6–2 1966 Arthur Ashe Stan Smith6–4, 6–2 1967 Stan Smith Allen Fox7–5, 13-11 1968 Stan Smith (2) Dick Leach6–3, 6–41969 Stan Smith (3) Bob Lutz 6–3, 6–4 1970 Erik van Dillen Allen Fox 6–2, 6–1 1971 Pancho Gonzales Jimmy Connors3–6, 6–3, 6–3.1972 Pancho Gonzales (2) Alex Olmedo 6–3, 6–21973 Bob Kreiss Jeff Austin7–6, 1–6, 7–6 1974 Billy Martin Gene Malin7–6, 6–31975 Brian Teacher Joao Soares6–2, 6–4 1976 Charles (Buzz) Strode Eliot Teltscher6–0, 7–6 1977 Raúl Ramírez Brian Gottfried7–5, 3–6, 6–4

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

References

Sources 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.