TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A bear was spotted on a golf course in northeastern Japan's Miyagi Prefecture on Wednesday, prompting organizers of a women's tournament to cancel Thursday's round.

According to the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association, it is "the first time on record" that a round on the top-tier JLPGA Tour has been canceled due to a bear sighting.

Wednesday's Pro-Am round was cut short as players and organizing staff had to evacuate the course at Sendai Classic Golf Club in Tomiya, near Sendai. The Meiji Yasuda Ladies tournament was originally scheduled for four days from Thursday.

Organizers will decide on Thursday whether the event can proceed. About 120 golfers are registered to take part.

"We're inspecting the situation around the course," a JLPGA public relations official said. "We'll make a decision after checking for signs of the bear."

In late May, a bear sighting in Ishikawa Prefecture forced the cancellation of the final round of another women's golf tournament, on the second-tier Step Up Tour due to safety concerns.