Cary, N.C. – October 05, 2026 -- SAS Institute will stage the 2026 SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club Oct. 12-18, pairing PGA Tour Champions competition with a new AI-powered fan platform and roughly $280,000 in direct community and charity funding tied to tournament week.
SAS launches Fairway Forecast, an AI analytics app for live tournament data
The company has built Fairway Forecast, a mobile web application powered by SAS analytics and AI that gives fans real-time player insights, tournament trends and an interactive chat feature. The tool includes the SAS Index, a proprietary rating that projects player competitiveness, along with live leaderboards and a prediction contest on holes 17 and 18. Fans access the platform via QR code at the venue or through official tournament channels.
HBCU Invitational enters its fifth year with $30,000 in honoraria
Running Oct. 17-18, the HBCU Invitational will bring 15 teams from 12 historically Black colleges and universities to compete for $30,000 distributed to their golf programs. Participating students attend a Career Day on Oct. 16 at SAS headquarters in Cary for networking and mentorship.
Folds of Honor Friday funds 13 scholarships with a $30,000 SAS contribution
On Oct. 16, the tournament will host ceremonies honoring service members and first responders, with SAS contributing $30,000 to Folds of Honor to support scholarships for families of fallen or disabled service members. Thirteen scholarships will be awarded to local students as part of the program.
Women's Day marks its 13th year under the theme "Redefining Luck"
Set for Oct. 13, the session will focus on leadership, health and mindset programming aimed at women navigating career and life transitions.
Fairway to Fun pairs a free YMCA membership offer with an AI experience zone
The family event on Oct. 16, from 4 to 7:30 p.m., will include hands-on AI activities, giveaways and a fireworks finale. Every family that completes the course receives a free one-week YMCA membership pass. Food vendors on site include BareBakedPizza, Big Mike's BBQ, BO's Kitchen, Cousins Maine Lobster, Holy Fries, MoMoMandu and Two Roosters.
Tournament proceeds have directed more than $6 million to YMCA of the Triangle programs
SAS confirmed a $220,000 donation for the 2026 event to support the Y Learning Intervention program, part of a cumulative total exceeding $6 million channeled through the tournament and fan participation over the years. Kim Keith, Vice President of Youth Development and Operations at YMCA of the Triangle, said the ongoing support from SAS and tournament fans continues to create opportunities for youth and families served by the organization.
Jenn Chase, SAS Chief Marketing Officer, said the event reflects the company's 50th-anniversary positioning as a data and AI company headquartered in the Triangle, tying the tournament's community programming to hands-on exposure to AI and data tools for students and families.