The Seabright Invitational Tournament also known as the Seabright Invitation was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament staged annually at the Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, Rumson, New Jersey, United States from 1884 to 1950.National Historic Landmark Nomination: Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. pp. 16, 19–21.

History The Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club is a historic private sports club in Rumson, Monmouth County, New Jersey in the United States. It was founded in 1877 and incorporated officially in 1886. In 1884, the club held its first Seabright Invitational Tournament,Gems, Borish and Pfister. (2017) p.173. the men's singles was won Joseph Sill Clark Sr. The tournament continued to be staged annually until 1889 when it was discontinued.

In 1894 the tournament was reestablished, and in 1920 a permanent women's event was finally added to the schedule. The event was suspended from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II. It resumed in 1946 and continued to be held until 1949. In 1950, the organizing committee of Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club voted to discontinue the event, due to ongoing cost of the maintenance of the grass courts, and the budget needed to build new permanent spectator seating made it untenable. Contrary to official sources the other reason the tournament was ended was not because of funding, but because the members grew tired of the fuss of organizing the event."Sport: Too Much Fuss", Time, August 14, 1950. Accessed March 12, 2023.

Finals Men's singles (Incomplete roll) YearWinnersRunners-upScore1886 H.W. Bucknall Richard Stevens6–2, 6–1, 6–1. 1888 H. Alexander W. Ward6–2, 6–4. 1891 Richard Stevens A.W. Post2–6, 1–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–21892 Richard Stevens (2) S.M. Allen6–2, 6–1, 6–1. 1893 Bill Larned Richard Stevenswalkover 1895 Bill Larned (2) John Howland7–5, 4–6, 6–1, 6–2. 1919 Bill Larned (3) Leonard Beekman6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–1. 1920 Watson Washburn Willis Davis1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. 1921 Bill Johnston Dick Williams6–0, 6–4, 6–2. 1922 Bill Johnston (2) Dick Williams6–0, 6–2, 6–3. 1923 Bill Johnston (3) Dick Williams?1924 Howard Kinsey Bill Johnston?1925 Vinnie Richards James Anderson6–1, 4–6, 6–0, 6–0. 1926 Vinnie Richards (2) Manuel Alonso Areizaga6–2, 10–8. 1927 Bill Tilden II Francis Hunter6–4, 6–1, 8–6. 1928 John Van Ryn Wilmer Allison6–8, 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 10–10, ret. 1929 John Doeg Dick Williams6–3, 7–5, 8–6. 1930 Sidney Wood Ellsworth Vines6–2, 6–2, 6–0. 1931 Ellsworth Vines John Doeg10–12, 6–8, 6–3, 8–6, 6–1. 1932 Sidney Wood (2) Gregory Mangin 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–41933 Frank Shields Gregory Mangin 6–1, 6–3, 6–11934 Berkeley Bell Bryan Grant5–7 6–1 6–3 2–6 6–4. 1935 Gregory Mangin Wilmer Hines6–8, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 7–5. 1936 John McDiarmid Joe Hunt9–7, 6–2, 6–2. 1937 Bobby Riggs Wilmer Allisonw.o. 1938 Bobby Riggs (2) Elwood Thomas Cooke6–1, 6–3, 6–1. 1939 Frank Parker Don McNeill6–3, 8–6, 6–0. 1940 Bobby Riggs (3) Frank Kovacs2–6, 0–6, 6–3, 11–9, 10–8. 1941 Bobby Riggs (4) Ted Schroeder6–4, 6–4, 6–0. 1942/1943Not held (due to World War I)1945 Bill Talbert Gardnar Mulloy6–2, 3–6, 6–2, 6–4. 1946 Jack Kramer Gardnar Mulloy6–4, 6–4, 6–4. 1947 Gardnar Mulloy Frank Parkerw.o. 1948 Earl Cochell Bill Talbert9–7, 8–6, 6–4. 1949 Earl Cochell (2) Gianni Cucelli6–2, 2–6, 6–0, 6–1.

Women's singles (Incomplete roll) YearWinnersRunners-upScore1888 Miss Clarkson B. Lockwood6–2, 6–0. 1917 Mary Browne Miss Grundy6–4, 1–6, 6–2. 1920 Marion Zinderstein Eleanor Tennant 6–4, 6–2 1921 Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Eleanor Goss 8–6, 6–31922 Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (2) Leslie Bancroft 6–1, 6–21923 Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (3) Mabel Davy Clayton 6–2, 6–31924 Mary Browne (2) Mayme McDonald 6–0, 6–11925 Elizabeth Ryan Helen Wills 6–3, 6–31926 Elizabeth Ryan (2) Helen Wills 6–4, 6–11927 Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (4) Helen Jacobs 6–2, 1–6, 6–11928 Helen Jacobs Marjorie Gladman 9–7, 6–31929 Helen Jacobs (2) Edith Cross 6–1, 6–21930 Anna McCune Harper Josephine Cruickshank 6–4, 6–41931 Helen Wills-Moody Helen Jacobs 6–0, 6–01932 Helen Jacobs (3) Josephine Cruickshank6–4, 6–31933 Sarah Palfrey Helen Jacobs6–1, 2–6, 7–51934 Carolin Babcock Helen Jacobs6–4, 6–21935 Ethel Burkhardt Arnold Gracyn Wheeler 6–1, 6–01936 Alice Marble Carolin Babcock 6–0, 6–31937 Alice Marble (2) Jadwiga Jędrzejowska6–3, 5–7, 8–61938 Alice Marble (3) Dorothy Bundy 6–2, 6–21939 Helen Bernhard Dorothy Workman 6–3, 7–51940 Alice Marble (4) Mary Hardwick6–2, 6–01941 Sarah Palfrey Cooke (2) Helen Bernhard6–,8 6–2, 7–51942/1943Not held (due to World War I)1944 Pauline Betz Margaret Osborne 6–2, 2–6, 6–31945 Pauline Betz (2) Louise Brough 10–8, 6–31946 Shirley Fry Mary Arnold Prentiss 6–4, 3–6, 6–21947 Dorothy Head Shirley Fry 7–5 6–41948 Gussie Moran Louise Snow Isaacs6–2, 6–2

Other tournaments The club during the 1880s early 1890s also organised other tournaments usually as a one off events occasionally a couple of editions.

References