LPGA Corning Classic
The LPGA Corning Classic was an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It took place every year from 1979 through 2009 at the Corning Country Club in Corning, New York.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Corning, New York |
| Established | 1979 |
| Course(s) | Corning Country Club |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,223 yards |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $1,500,000 (2009) |
| Final year | 2009 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 264 Juli Inkster (2003) |
| To par | -24 Juli Inkster (2003) |
| Final champion | |
 Yani Tseng | |
It was one of the longest running tournaments on the LPGA Tour and the longest with a single sponsor. The title sponsor since the beginning was Corning Incorporated, an American manufacturer of glass, ceramics and related materials, primarily for industrial and scientific applications.
Production and operation of the tournament was a large community effort by the citizens of Corning. As with most tournaments on the LPGA Tour, proceeds went to charity.[1] Beneficiaries of the Corning Classic were local hospitals and camps for disabled children. Net charitable proceeds since 1979 exceeded $5 million.
On April 20, 2009, the Classic's title sponsor, Corning Incorporated, announced it would not be able to sponsor the tournament after the 2009 tournament. The tournament's executives confirmed that efforts to secure additional sponsors had been unsuccessful and that the tournament would not continue after 2009.
Tournament names through the years:
- 1979-1983: Corning Classic
- 1984-2009: LPGA Corning Classic
Winners
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Score | Purse ($) | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | May 21–24 | Yani Tseng | Taiwan | 267 (−21) | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2008* | May 22–25 | Leta Lindley |  United States | 277 (−11) | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2007 | May 24–27 | Young Kim |  South Korea | 268 (−20) | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2006* | May 25–28 | Hee-Won Han | South Korea | 273 (−15) | 1,200,000 | 180,000 |
| 2005 | May 26–29 | Jimin Kang | South Korea | 273 (−15) | 1,100,000 | 165,000 |
| 2004 | May 27–30 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 270 (−18) | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2003 | May 22–25 | Juli Inkster | United States | 264 (−24) | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2002 | May 23–26 | Laura Diaz | United States | 274 (−14) | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2001 | May 24–27 | Carin Koch | Sweden | 270 (−18) | 900,000 | 135,000 |
| 2000* | May 25–28 | Betsy King | United States | 276 (−12 | 800,000 | 120,000 |
| 1999 | May 27–30 | Kelli Kuehne | United States | 278 (−10) | 750,000 | 112,500 |
| 1998 | May 21–24 | Tammie Green | United States | 268 (−20) | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1997* | May 22–25 | Rosie Jones | United States | 277 (−11) | 650,000 | 97,500 |
| 1996 | May 23–26 | Rosie Jones | United States | 276 (−12) | 600,000 | 90,000 |
| 1995 | May 25–28 | Alison Nicholas |  England | 275 (−13) | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1994 | May 26–29 | Beth Daniel | United States | 278 (−10) | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1993* | May 27–30 | Kelly Robbins | United States | 277 (−11) | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1992 | May 21–24 | Colleen Walker | United States | 276 (−12) | 450,000 | 67,500 |
| 1991 | May 23–26 | Betsy King | United States | 273 (−15) | 400,000 | 60,000 |
| 1990 | May 24–27 | Pat Bradley | United States | 274 (−10) | 350,000 | 52,500 |
| 1989 | May 25–28 | Ayako Okamoto |  Japan | 272 (−12) | 325,000 | 48,750 |
| 1988 | May 26–29 | Sherri Turner | United States | 273 (−15) | 325,000 | 48,750 |
| 1987 | May 28–31 | Cindy Rarick | United States | 275 (−13) | 275,000 | 41,250 |
| 1986 | May 22–25 | Laurie Rinker | United States | 278 (−10) | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1985 | May 23–36 | Patti Rizzo | United States | 272 (−16) | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1984 | May 24–27 | JoAnne Carner | United States | 281 (−7) | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| 1983 | May 26–29 | Patty Sheehan | United States | 272 (−16) | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| 1982* | May 27–30 | Sandra Spuzich | United States | 280 (−8) | 200,000 | 30,000 |
| 1981 | May 21–24 | Kathy Hite | United States | 282 (−6) | 125,000 | 18,750 |
| 1980 | May 22–25 | Donna Caponi | United States | 281 (−7) | 125,000 | 18,750 |
| 1979 | May 24–27 | Penny Pulz | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia | 281 (−7) | 100,000 | 15,000 |
* Championship won in sudden-death playoff.
Tournament record
| Year | Player | Score | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Juli Inkster | 62 (−10) | 4th round |
| 2009 | Yani Tseng | 62 (−10) | 3rd round |
| 2009 | Mika Miyazato | 62 (−10) | 3rd round |