First TVOC Tennis Champ - Martin Buxby (U of Texas)

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Editor's Note: One of the best adult tennis tournaments in the South the Tennessee Valley Open Championship (TVOC) is played this weekend at Manker Patten Tennis Club in Chattanooga. The tournament started in 1934.

 

It was the inaugural year of the Tennessee Valley Invitational - June 1934 - and “Hook ‘Em Horns†was the cry heard across the clay courts at the Chattanooga Tennis Club.

 

Now known as the Tennessee Valley Open Championship, Martin Buxby won singles and doubles to lead a strong contingent of U. of Texas players 80 years ago at the Chattanooga Tennis Club (now Manker Patten).

 

A Southwest Conference champion in singles and doubles (with Bert Meltens), Buxby defeated Robert Lake in the finals.

 

In the doubles, Buxby teamed with UT teammate Meltens and defeated Chattanoogan Lefty Bryan and Jack Mooney for the doubles title. Other U of Texas players Carl Smalley and George Dullnig. The UT team was headed to the collegiate nationals after the TVI.

 

Buxby made it back-to-back in 1935 winning singles and doubles (with Smalley).

 

A strong field included the Tennessee champion (Bryan), the Alabama champion (Robert Lake), Tennessee doubles champions (Kimbark Peterson and Kendal Cram

 

Top Seeds: (1) Lefty Bryan (2) Jack Mooney (3) Martin Buxby (4) Kendal Cram

 

Women’s Open: The first TVI women’s tournament was 1935 as Catherine Wolfe (Ind.) claimed the singles … Wolfe was ranked No.10 nationally … Chattanoogan Ruth Elberfeld Overmeyer lost to Wolfe in the singles semis and then she and Wolfe placed second in doubles

 

1934

 

Men’s Open - Quarterfinals

 

Bert Meltens (U. of Rexas) def. (1) Lefty Bryan (Chattanooga), 5-7,6-0, 8-6

J.O. Sanford (Mobile, Ala. City champ) def. (2) Jack Mooney, 2-6, 6-1, 8-6

Robert Lake (Alabama) def. (4) Kendal Cram (Tenn. doubles champ) 5-7, -5, 6-2

(3) Martin Buxby (Texas) def. Kimbark Peterson (Nashville), 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

 

Semifinals

 

(3) Buxby def. Sanford, 6-2, 6-2

Lake def. Meltens, 7-5, 6-4

 

Singles Finals

(3) Martin Buxby (Texas) def. Robert Lake (Birmingham, Ala.), 9-7, 6-3

 

Men’s Doubles – Finals

 

Martin Buxby (Texas)-Bert Meltens (Texas) def. Lefty Bryan (Chattanooga)-Jack Mooney (Atlanta), 6-8, 6-2, 6-2

 

TVI - 1935

 

Men’s Singles - Finals

 

Martin Buxby (Texas) def. Arthur Hendricks (Nashville), 6-0, 3-6, 6-3

 

Men’s Doubles - Finals

 

Martin Buxby-Carl Smalley (Texas) def. Arthur Hendricks (Nashville)-Billy Ledsinger (Memphis), 6-2, 6-4

 

Women’s Singles

 

Semifinals

 

(2) Eunice Dean def. Pearl Lewis, 6-1, 6-2

 

(1) Catherine Wolfe def. Ruth Elbertfeld Overmeyer

 

Finals

 

(1) Catherine Wolfe (Elkhart, Ind.) def. (2) Eunice Dean (San Antonio, Texas), 12-10, 6-3

 

Women’s Doubles -Finals

 

Eunice Dean-Betty Lewis def. (1) Catherine Wolfe-Ruth Elberfield Overmeyer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

 

Contact B.B. Branton at William.branton@comcast.net

Edited June 7, 2013 by bbb