news-record.com

For a while Saturday, it seemed questionable whether it would stop raining long enough to get the Wyndham Championship back on schedule. Who knew that the PGA tournament at Sedgefield Country Club would deliver four rounds plus three playoff holes before concluding after a long and lovely day of well-played golf on Sunday?

Not bad for an event that experienced not one day, but two days of intense downpours.

The challenging weather forced lots of reorganization, but tournament officials and volunteers were resilient, fans were patient and players were, well, real pros.

A dozen finished within three strokes of each other at the top of the leader board Sunday, including three in a tie for first. Ryan Moore prevailed on the tournament's 75th hole.

One of the playoff losers, Jason Bohn, probably spoke for many players when he said, "I'm absolutely a fan of Greensboro. I love this golf course."

The course drew 33,000 spectators Sunday -- a 25,000-ticket sellout plus 8,000 whose Saturday passes were honored the next day because of the weather disruptions.

The fan support and corporate sponsorships will enable further significant charitable contributions to local and regional organizations.

The former Greater Greensboro Open and Chrysler Classic of Greensboro has become a truly regional event. The effort to broaden the tournament's appeal and base of support has paid off. Now there are plans to produce greater dividends. Directors and sponsors announced a commitment to devote additional proceeds to Triad job-growth strategies in the aerospace, furniture and science and medical technology industries.

That's a unique objective for a PGA event, but it's a good idea. This golf tournament has promotional power, especially as it becomes a popular stop for many of the sport's biggest stars. A national and international audience, and potential sponsors with worldwide interests, will see more than just golf. They'll notice an inviting and attractive region with leaders who put on a first-class event, rain and shine.