The SAS Championship: Cheers to 25 years

The SAS Championship is more than just world-class golf. It’s a week of events for everyone to enjoy.

Keep reading to get a recap of what went down during the 25th iteration of this event.

Where talent meets opportunity: HBCU Invitational and career day

This year marked the fourth annual HBCU Invitational and career day, where student-athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities gathered to compete, network and explore the future of tech-enabled careers.

Reggie Townsend, Vice President of the SAS Data Ethics Practice, opened the career day event with an inspiring message about curiosity, confidence and connection. He challenged students to use this moment to build relationships that outlast the tournament.

From there, the focus shifted to professional development. Sessions led by experts from LinkedIn and Microsoft explored how to craft a strong digital presence, use AI skills and prepare for the evolving workforce. A panel featuring leaders from SAS, Microsoft and Octagon, moderated by Townsend, tackled questions about technology’s role in shaping careers – from how AI is transforming industries to how young professionals can stand out in competitive fields.

They would tee up for the HBCU Invitational over the final days of SAS Championship as sixteen teams battled for the three team and individual titles. Here is a full list of winners:

Team winners

Men’s DI: North Carolina A&T
Men’s DII: Fayetteville State
Women: North Carolina A&T

Individual winners

Men’s DI: E. Hernandez (North Carolina A&T)
Men’s DII: J. McCarthy (Fayetteville State)
Women: E. Prokhorova (North Carolina A&T)

Honoring service and education with Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor was one of those powerful reminders that the SAS Championship is about more than golf.

The day opened with a ceremony featuring Cary High School’s JROTC, a stirring performance of the national anthem and ceremonial tee shots from veterans Jack Smith, Armand Lachman and Hal Holloway.

Through its partnership with Folds of Honor, SAS continues to support the families of fallen and disabled military heroes and first responders by funding educational scholarships for their loved ones. During the ceremony, Pat Gallagher, SAS Director of Government Relations, shared a personal story of being “coined” by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder of Folds of Honor – a gesture symbolizing shared purpose and appreciation.

Throughout the Friday of SAS Championship, honorees stood at the 18th green, holding the American flag as players finished their rounds – ensuring it never touched the ground. Fans, players and volunteers filled the course in red, white and blue, uniting in a powerful display of respect and remembrance.

Connecting community through play: Fairway to Fun

SAS Championship shifted from the greens to the fairway for an evening that celebrated creativity, connection and community. Fairway to Fun brought people together for hands-on tech experiences, local food trucks and a spectacular fireworks finale.

The event showcased AI-powered games and live performances. But behind the fun was a shared purpose of supporting STEM education and youth development through the YMCA of the Triangle.

“Fairway to Fun is really important to us because it allows us to team up with SAS employees and is such a great expression of our partnership,” said Brad Davis, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the YMCA of the Triangle.

The final day of the 2025 SAS Championship was a classic demonstration of focus and pressure

Alex Čejka captured the 25th SAS Championship title, becoming just the second German golfer to collect the coveted hardware. He won with a final score of 9 under par, which is the highest ever score to win this event (and you can bet the rain had something to do with that). Čejka is also the 21st different golfer to win the SAS Championship in its 25-year history.

Čejka teed off Sunday as the clubhouse leader, with rainy weather threatening to become a factor in what was a typical North Carolina early-fall weekend.

The momentum swung decisively on the back nine, where Čejka separated himself from the field with a masterful performance. With 2020 Champion Ernie Els just a couple of strokes behind, Čejka faced a serious challenge, sitting at +1 on his round after the 15th hole.

The eventual champion steadied himself, however, knocking down back-to-back birdies to end the Final Round, securing the 2025 SAS Championship title. The win marked the pro golfer’s fourth on the PGA TOUR Champions.