It is believed to be the richest event for a club professional in the country -- a $175,000 purse with a $30,000 first prize -- played on a course that formerly was the site for an annual PGA Tour event.

But, after a four-year run at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, the Falling Rock Classic has been put on hold -- the victim of a sagging economy.

The 72-hole event, staged and funded by 84 Lumber owner Joe Hardy, will not be played this year -- at least, not under the old structure -- because of a poor housing market that has forced 84 Lumber to close a number of stores and eliminate jobs around the country.

What's more, a struggling hospitality industry also has forced cutbacks and layoffs at Hardy's posh resort in Farmington, which includes the Mystic Rock course on which the tournament was played.

"It's difficult to tell everyone to watch every penny and then put up $184,000 for a golf tournament," said 84 Lumber spokesperson Jeff Nobers, referring to what was going to be the total purse for this year's event.

Nobers said there is a chance the tournament will return with its large purse and winner's share if, and when, the economy recovers. Meantime, Dennis Clark, the resort's director of golf, is working with the Tri-State PGA on possibly holding a smaller 36-hole event this year, funded by outside sponsors.

The Falling Rock Classic isn't the only tournament missing from the Tri-State PGA schedule this year.

The Tri-State Amateur, one of the two biggest amateur events in Western Pennsylvania, also will not be played this summer -- but for a different reason.

Tri-State PGA executive director Dennis Darak said the tournament was canceled because the section could not find a date that fit its schedule or was compatible with other top amateur events in the region. Darak, though, said the Tri-State Amateur will return in 2010.

""It was just a casualty of scheduling," Darak said. "We're already planning for next year."

Phil Mickelson has the most PGA Tour victories (36) of any left-handed player in history. Who is second? Answer at end.

OK, so Craig Stadler is disqualified from the Andy Williams Open in San Diego in 1987 because, not wanting to dirty his pants on wet grass, he used a towel on which to kneel while hitting a shot from under a tree. Under the rules of golf, that constituted "building a stance," a no-no that requires a two-stroke penalty -- or, in Stadler's case, an unwitting DQ because he signed his scorecard without assessing the penalty.

Now, along comes Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who, not wanting to dirty his nice Hugo Boss clothes, strips to his boxers to play a shot on the 12th hole at Doral during last week's CA Championship. No shoes, no pants, no shirt -- just his skivvies and a golf glove. He even took off his watch.

What, he couldn't stand some mud flecks on his pants for six more holes? On free clothes he probably wouldn't wear again anyway?

Stenson, of course, was not subject to penalty. Somewhat astonishingly, the game that demands gentlemanly behavior, sportsmanship and proper etiquette does not have a provision for playing near-naked. You can't kneel on a towel but it's OK to go all Happy Gilmore out there.

Thank goodness it wasn't Stadler.

• Sean Swidzinski has been promoted from assistant to head professional at Olde Stonewall Golf Club, replacing Jesse Horner.

• Jeff Ellis has been promoted from assistant to head professional at South Hills CC, replacing Sam Depe III.

• Rich Conwell, former assistant at Quicksilver and Shannopin, has been named head professional at Uniontown CC.

• Craig Mankins has been named head professional at Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg. He was formerly head pro at Punxsutawney CC.

• Former Oakmont CC and Laurel Valley GC superintendent Mark Kuhns, a Ligonier native, has been named president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Kuhns has been director of grounds at Baltusrol GC in Springfield, N.J., since 1999.

• The Harry Quinn-Ralph Schorr Memorial Classic, benefitting the Greater Pittsburgh Football Officials Association scholarship fund, is June 28 at Ponderosa GC. Call 412-787-5422.

Mike Weir has eight PGA Tour victories, second only to Mickelson among left-handed players.