Story by Lindsey Chester | August 28, 2010 | Tags: Prestonwood Country Club, SAS Championship
Story by Leslie Huffman. Photos by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – For the 10th year Prestonwood Country Club in Cary will host the SAS Championship Golf Tournament, September 20 – 26. The tournament players this year will include 7 out of the 8 past champions and award a purse of $2.1 million.
The Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, established in 1980, is a non-profit membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. These golfers are all accomplished players that consist of major championship winners and includes 16 members inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. This year the Champions Tour will hold 26 separate tournaments in 15 states and four countries.
The purpose of of the Champions Tour is to provide competitive and earnings opportunities for its members, and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events generate significant sums of money for charity.
The SAS Championship has become one of the most popular stops on the Champions Tour and annually draws elite fields and garners tremendous community support.
How The SAS Championship Benefits Cary And Surrounding Area
Over the last 10 years the SAS Championship has brought 50 – 60,000 spectators to Cary to watch the tournament. The economic impact to Cary and the Triangle has been approximately $100 million over the 10 year period and $2.25 million have been contributed to area charities.
Proceeds from the SAS Championship have always benefited local educational organizations through the Triangle Community Foundation. This year, as part of its 10th anniversary, proceeds will go to the YMCA of the Triangle’s We Build People Campaign, with funds benefiting Y Learning, the YMCA’s standardized after school tutorial program. Currently, more than 600 children from area schools participate in Y Learning at little or no cost, thanks to the YMCA’s We Build People Campaign.
Meet Tournament Director Jeff Kleiber
Jeff Kleiber, Tournament Director has been in Cary for the last 8 years as Director of the SAS Championship. He comes from Kansas City and has years of experience with professional sports. I asked Jeff if his golf game benefited from working with the pros.
“Thank goodness I was not hired based on my golf skills, Jeff responded, “and in eight years it hasn’t improved.”
Jeff told me that the tournament really showcases the community. Players and their families along with media and golf fans stay in our hotels and eat at neighborhood restaurants. The tour gives local spectators an intimate look into a professional sporting event. Many come out to volunteer.
“Support from the community has always been a great part of the SAS Championship, says Kleiber. “Volunteers have played an integral role in the success of the tournament since its beginning.” “We have over 600 volunteers that get a behind-the-scenes look at a professional golf tournament while interacting with golf’s legends.”
We talked about the first year of the SAS Championship in September of 2001. The date of the tournament just happened to be scheduled the week following the September 11th terrorist attacks. It had been debated whether they should hold the tournament in the wake of the tragedy.
The decision was made to move forward and it was the first public sporting event to take place after the 11th. The tournament was the first time the community got together after 9-11. It was somber yet cathartic to be among people and focus on the events of the day and be apart of a new tradition in Cary.
In honor of the the tournaments 10th anniversary, Jeff and his team will be releasing the “Top 10 Moments In The SAS Championship History” two at a time leading up to the tournament. The 2001 first SAS Championship will most likely be on mentioned on the list.
Jeff told me that new this year is the Blue Points 5K sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The 5K race will take place Saturday, Sept. 25, prior to the tournament’s second round. Individuals and families can run on the cart paths of the golf tournament’s back nine holes which gives participants a chance to experience the Prestonwood Country Club golf course in a different way.
The schedule of events can be found at the SAS Championship website. Tickets to the tournament can be purchased online at www.saschampionship.com or by calling (919) 531-GOLF (4653).
Golf is a puzzle without an answer. I’ve played the game for 40 years and I still haven’t the slightest idea how to play.
~ Gary Player
