BLACKBURN’S Corisande Lee admits it could be several years before she returns to the Ladies European Tour after the spiralling cost of competing forced her to put her career on hold.

The 26-year-old has struggled to make a living from the sport after turning professional and earning her first conditional tour card in December 2009.

In two years on the LET, a frustrated Lee has been limited to just 13 event appearances and precious little prize money.

Despite regular financial support from her father Duncan, a former golf pro, the Chorley-born star believes taking a step back from full-time sport is the best way forward.

“It was quite an easy decision to make,” admits the former St Wilfrid’s High School student. “I was constantly running at a loss and there’s only so long you can put up with that.

“There were tournaments on the LET where you had to finish in the top three places just to break even. That seemed a bit ridiculous. It’s just silly.

“The LET have lost sponsors for this coming year, and the prize money has gone down, in some places by about 90 per cent, so there was little incentive for me.

“My dad has got a landscape gardening business in Blackburn and I’m helping him out on a full-time basis. I can make so much more money doing that than playing golf.”

However, it remains Lee’s long-held dream to compete with the cream of European golf in the future and intends to make a return.

“Over the next few years, I’m going to try and save up as much money for when the situation improves,” said Lee, who is affiliated to West Lancs Golf Club. “Then I’ll try and go back on tour again, rather than have my dad continue to put his hand in his pocket.

“I’m only young so it’s not like I can’t return and be a better golfer. It’s not like football when you get to 30 and are considered over the hill.

“I’m still a member of the LET and I’ve got a few pro-ams lined up this year, mainly around London.

“The big difference now is that I’m not playing golf every day like I used to.”

Lee rose to prominence as Lancashire’s leading female professional after an excellent amateur career.

Taking up golf at the age of 16, she became a two-time Lancashire champion and also helped her county win the England Championship.