"Fairway to Fun", HBCU Invitational Tournament, Women's Day, and other iconic events extend the meaning of these competitions beyond the sports fields.

Cary, North Carolina, October 5th / PRNewswire / -- The 2026 SAS Championship will return to Prestonwood Country Club from October 12th to 18th, where it will showcase sports, technology, education, and community impact over a period of one week. The event will bring together renowned athletes, thousands of fans, as well as a variety of special activities, including the HBCU Invitational, Women's Day, Folds, of, Honor Friday, a 5-kilometer road race, Food Truck Friday, and family-oriented events such as Fairway, to, and Fun. SAS states that these events continue the company's long-standing tradition of supporting educational and community projects in the Triangulate region. This year's community initiative will once again focus on YMCA Annual Campaign to fund its STEM projects.

For SAS, this championship is more than just a landmark golf event. The company states that it reflects its long-term role as a business and community partner in Kaili and the Triangulate region, creating lasting value beyond the event week by combining sports, technology, education, and local participation.

One of the highlights of this event week is that Fairway, to, and Fun will return on Friday, October 16th, from 4 PM to 7:30 PM, extending the community impact of the event to a night designed for families, students, and fans. This family-friendly event will re-establish a AI experience area, offering hands-on activities and giveaways; each family that completes the route will receive a free one-week YMCA membership pass. There will also be rotating local food stalls on site, including those from BareBakedPizza, BBQ, BO, Kitchen, Cousins Maine Lobster, Holy Fries, MoMoMandu, and Two Roosters. A spectacular fireworks finale will also make its return, bringing a festive conclusion to the evening.

What's new this year is that fans can also interact with the event through Fairway Forecast. This is a mobile web application developed by SAS, analyzed by SAS, and driven by AI. It provides insights into players, trends of the event, and interactive chat functions, making it convenient for fans to explore match data in real-time. Visitors can track real-time scores, view SAS Index – a proprietary analysis score that measures a player's expected competitiveness – and make predictions for holes 17 and 18 to compete for prizes and recognition on the leaderboard. Fans can join in by scanning the Fairway Forecast QR code provided at the event site and through the official SAS championship channels.

"As SAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are proud that the championship continues to bring people together around golf, community, and innovation," said Jenn Chase, Chief Marketing Officer of SAS. "For decades, this event has reflected SAS's commitment to the tri-state area – we are not only a global data and AI company headquartered here, but also a community partner dedicated to investing in students, families, and future leaders. Fairway to Fun makes this commitment a reality by helping students and families explore AI, data, and emerging technologies in an hands-on and interactive way."

The SAS Championship and its fans have directed over 6 million dollars to youth education and community projects through YMCA, of, the, and Triangle, including the Y Learning Intervention project. This amount includes SAS annual donations to support Y Learning Intervention; the donation corresponding to the 2026 event was 220,000 dollars, continuing the SAS commitment to expand opportunities for students in this region.

"For many years, the SAS Championship has been a powerful force for good in our community. The unwavering support of SAS and the fans of the event has continuously created life-changing opportunities for the youth and families we serve," said YMCA, Vice President of Youth Development and Operations at Kim Keith.

The 2026 SAS Championship will launch a number of initiatives that aim to connect the event with a broader community, further expanding its impact in education, leadership, and services. The following are the highlights of this year's charitable and educational activities:

• HBCU Invitational Tournament (October 17th to 18th): Entering its fifth year, this event welcomes 15 teams from 12 historically black colleges and universities to compete. SAS will provide a total of $30,000 in prize money for the golf programs of these schools. Students will also visit the SAS headquarters in Kaylee on October 16th to participate in a Career Day event, where they can engage in networking, receive mentorship, and explore career opportunities.
• Women's Day (October 13th): This 13th annual event is themed "Remolding Luck" and features inspiring discussions on health, mindset, and leadership. The event will explore how today's female leaders are coping with change, embracing risk, and forging their own paths forward.
• Folds of Honor Friday (October 16): This was an event to pay tribute to military personnel and first responders, which included memorial ceremonies, patriotic displays, as well as the awarding of 13 scholarships to local students. SAS will also donate $30,000 to Folds of Honor to provide life-changing scholarships for families of American soldiers who have died or been disabled in combat, as well as first responders.

Tickets are now available, and fans can experience golf tournaments, family-friendly activities, and community impact projects during the event week.

About the SAS Championship

For 25 years, the SAS Championship has been bringing together golf legends, fans, and community partners at the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. This event is part of the PGA Tour Champions Tour and collaborates with YMCA, of, the, and Triangle to serve as their primary beneficiary charity. The tournament week includes activities for families, students, business leaders, and community organizations, while also supporting local youth education and other critical needs.

Regarding YMCA, of, the, Triangle

YMCA _ of _ the _ Triangle is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and one of the largest and most trusted community organizations in the region. It has been serving Raleigh, Durham, Cary and surrounding communities since 1857. Every year, over 235,000 people connect with us through 19 branches, 3 overnight camps, and hundreds of project sites. With the support of more than $10.9 million in charitable donations, we aim to help over 28,000 people access programs and services by 2025, advancing our vision of building a community where everyone is healthier, every child and teen is more resilient, and no one feels alone. For more information, please visit YMCATriangle.org. The Y _ A Community _ for a Lifetime.

About SAS

SAS is a leader in the fields of global data and AI, helping organizations make more confident decisions with reliable AI. For decades, SAS has set standards for delivering software that can have a tangible impact, thanks to its deep industry expertise, transparency, and governance capabilities. SAS grants you the “THE POWER TO KNOW ®” designation.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc product or service names are registered trademarks of SAS Institute Inc in the United States and other countries/regions. ® indicates registration in the United States. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2026 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

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