LPGA Farr golf tourney to return in 2012 after one-year hiatus

Next summer, for the second time in its existence, the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic will take a one-year hiatus, The Blade learned Monday.

Sources close to sponsorship negotiations between the tournament and the LPGA Tour indicate the Farr Classic will return in 2012 with a multi-year contract.

It is expected the Farr Classic will announce its future plans later Tuesday.

Tournament founder and director Judd Silverman declined comment, other than to say, "I'll be glad to discuss it when we make a formal announcement."

The U.S. Senior Open will be held next summer at Inverness Club, and one source said the decision to suspend the Farr during 2011 was made because of the economic challenges that would come into play if both events were to be staged about one month apart.

Traditionally, the Farr has been held in proximity to the Fourth of July holiday. The Senior Open is scheduled for July 28-31, 2011.

This would mark the second time the Farr Classic has been skipped to avoid conflict with a men's major championship. In 1986, with just a two-year history at that point, the Farr was put on ice for one year when Inverness was host to the PGA Championship.

However, when the PGA returned to Toledo in 1993 and when the Senior Open made its first stop at Inverness in 2003, the Farr was staged and all of the events were considered financial successes.

Tournament organizers felt the economic climate precluded any guarantee that would be the case next year, according to sources who requested anonymity.

Toledo Classic Inc., the corporate entity that runs the Farr Classic, also is under contract with Inverness and the United States Golf Association to market and manage the Senior Open. It played the same role when the Senior Open was held in Toledo in 2003, as well as for the NCAA Championship at Inverness a year ago.

The Farr Classic is being held this week for the 26th time and for the 22nd consecutive year at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania.

This week's Farr is the result of a one-year contract negotiated after last year's event and following changes in LPGA Tour leadership that led to more manageable financial conditions under which the tournament was able to continue.

Attempts to reach new LPGA commissioner Mike Wahn for comment were unsuccessful yesterday. He is scheduled to be in Toledo today.

Contact Blade sports columnist

Dave Hackenberg at:

dhack@theblade.com

or 419-724-6398.