Economic woes end Corning Classic after 31 years
Posted: 04.20.2009 at 3:19 PM

CORNING, N.Y. (AP) — Officials say the LPGA Corning Classic will end after this year's tournament in May.

The 31-year-old event is the longest running tournament on the LPGA Tour with the same sponsor at the same venue.

Corning Inc. Executive Vice President Kirk Legg made the announcement Monday afternoon at the Corning Country Club. He says the tournament has lost $500,000 in sponsorships and has not been able to replace the lost revenue.

Corning has been restructuring recently and laid off 3,500 people from its global work force. Legg says financing the tournament is no longer a viable expense.

Tournament president Jack Benjamin also says attendance is down in recent years, and fewer volunteers are coming out to help.