The 41st ‘Bud’: Bud Simpson Open tennis tourney this weekend

ALTON – One of the St. Louis area’s oldest tennis tournaments is set for its 41st running. And organizers say that a weekend of high-caliber tennis will share the spotlight with putting the finishing touches on renovations at one of the area’s top public municipal tennis facilities.

Play in the 41st annual $2,500 Bud Simpson Open is set to get under way Friday and run through Sunday at the Simpson Tennis Complex at Gordon Moore Park, as well as at the Alton High School tennis courts.

“Our numbers for participation are very high,” spokesperson Kathy Claywell said. “The final section that’s being renovated is nearing completion of the entire tennis complex.

“The third pavilion is the last major area that needs to be renovated and with the assistance of the Alton Godfrey Rotary and Park and Recreation, we are able to see its completion.”

Barnhart Construction Co. has been key to the project, according to Claywell.

“Bobby Barnhart has been a tremendous help to us and has done a terrific job,” she said. ” This tournament has a great following and we have all made good friendships with many of our returning players.

The tournament is named for the late Dr. Raymond R. “Bud” Simpson of Alton, who was a lifelong tennis player, teacher, booster and fan. Simpson died while playing tennis on June 12, 1982. The tournament is affectionately known as “The Bud.”

Proceeds from the tournament go to support the Simpson Memorial Tennis program and donations are welcome as well.

The tournament will feature approximately  $2,500 in equal prize money, including $500 for the Men’s Open and Women’s Open singles champions. Prize money will also be awarded to winners an finalists for all open singles, doubles and mixed events.

Free lunch will be available Saturday, as well as and dry-fit T-shirts will be provided to participants.

Sponsors for this year’s tournament include Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, Barnhart Contracting Co., Freer Auto Body, The Loading Dock, Werts Welding Tank Service, Roberts Motors, Donnewald Distributing, Norton Rain Insurance, Liberty Bank and Bill Diddlebock. 

Schedules for this year’s tournament are still being finalized.

“We will have court monitors in place to assist the players,” Claywell said. “The total purse for this tournament is $2,500. Both the men’s and womens’ singles champion will receive $500.”

There will also be 35-year-old, 45 and 55-year old singles divisions with prize money for age champions.

“We have players coming from many other areas besides St. Louis,” Claywell said. 

Top players from around the Midwest are entered and include players from colleges and high schools as well.

Last year, Courtney Clayton won the Women’s Open title and Blake Strode was the Men’s Open champ.

The unseeded Clayton came out of retirement and defeated Elizabeth Barlow in the Women’s Open Singles final, 6-2, 6-2. Clayton earned her finals berth with a Saturday semifinal win over Mia Mcissac 6-0, 6-0. Barlow won her Saturday semifinal over Trish Arreazola 6-0, 6-0.

In the quarterfinals, Clayton knocked off  2021 champion Chloe Koons of Edwardsville. Koons and partner Zoe Byron finished second in the Women’s Doubles competition. 

Barlow and partner Sophia McLellan won the doubles title with a win over Koons and Byron.

Strode defeated reigning Missouri state high school champion Evan Erb in the Men’s Open Singles championship match. Strobe’s strong serves and steady power off the ground was too much for Erb in a 6-2, 6-2 final result.

Erb had advanced to the final by knocking off defending champion Gus Tettamble 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 in the semifinals. 

Strode made his way to the final with a 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory over Cole Davis, husband of women’s champion Courtney Clayton. 

Gus Tettamble and Strode, the top seeds, teamed up to win the Men’s Open doubles championship with a 7-6, 7-5 win over second-seeded Milos Vuckobic and Davis. 

In other divisions, Timothy Flatt went 3-0 to finish first in the men’s 55-and-over singles, while Arreazola went 2-0 to capture the top spot in women’s 55-and-over singles play.

The Simpson Open was named an Outstanding Adult Tournament  in 2021 and 2022 by the United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley Section’s St. Louis District.