Over the weekend, the PGA TOUR Champions finished another exciting tournament. Known as the SAS Championship, the 3-round competition was not without its drama. Ultimately, only one golfer can walk away with the trophy, but hundreds will benefit from the charitable giving made possible by the tournament’s philanthropic initiatives.

The SAS Championship

SAS is the data, AI, and analytics company where this tournament gets its namesake. The SAS Championship is typically held in the fall at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. The tournament itself was established in 2001 and has players compete in a stroke play format. While it’s not one of the majors or a playoff tournament, the $2.1 million purse is incentive enough for golfers to battle over 7,237 yards of course.

Results of the 2024 Tournament

After battling injury over the last few months, Jerry Kelly held on for a strong finish to win the 2024 SAS Championship on Sunday, October 13. With this victory, he’ll take home $315K in winnings.

Kelly narrowly beat EyePromise® ambassador Padraig Harrington, who had taken a strong three-shot lead Saturday. However, Kelly was able to come back and win it all by one stroke after Harrington’s 8-foot putt rounded the cup and stayed on the green. Had the shot gone in, it would have forced a playoff round.

Perhaps most importantly, the SAS Championship donated nearly $6 million in support of youth educational initiatives through the YMCA of the Triangle. The tournament contributes the single largest donation to the Y Learning Program annually, and nearly 10,000 students have enjoyed the benefits of the program.

The Playoffs Begin!

The conclusion of the SAS Championship also solidifies the standings for the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, which will begin this week with the Dominion Energy Charity Classic played in Richmond, Virginia. Tune into the action this Friday!