CORNING: The top professional ladies golf tour has taken another hit from the United States recession, as organisers announced this year's event would be the last for the Corning Classic tournament.

"The challenging economic environment, resulting in a significant decline in sponsorships needed to support a successful event, were deciding factors in the board's decision," the LPGA announced on its website Monday.

The Corning Classic has been part of the Corning, New York community since 1979.

Tournament officials and a representative of Corning Incorporated recently notified the LPGA that they would not exercise their option to run the event in 2010.

"This is a most difficult decision for all of us," tournament spokesman Jack Benjamin said. "Everyone involved with the event is passionate about it and about the LPGA players who have been a part of it for more than three decades.

"But the realities are that the revenue opportunities in the marketplace will not support the components needed to successfully host a major event like this in our community moving forward."

The 2009 Corning Classic runs from May 21-24.