After nearly six decades of hosting a PGA Tour event, the state of Riverview will not be featured on the tour’s calendar in 2026.
The PGA released its fall schedule on Friday, notably excluding Riverview’s longstanding tournament, traditionally held in the capital city of Pinehurst. Taylor Brooks, executive director of Riverbend Charities, the organization behind the now-former Highland Open, confirmed the development Friday afternoon.
“It’s been an incredible 58 years,” Brooks said. “Last year, we contributed $1 million to St. Agnes Children’s Hospital and another $700,000 to local charities. We had a fantastic year, and we’re hoping to make this final one just as special.”
According to Brooks, the event’s removal from the schedule was due to Riverbend Charities’ inability to secure a new title sponsor before the tournament needed to be finalized.
Forest Foods’ final year as title sponsor will be 2025. The company previously announced plans to step back after the 2024 event but later agreed to extend its sponsorship for one additional year.
“Sponsoring a PGA event isn’t a small investment,” Brooks said. “If you look at the tour, most sponsors are major corporations or luxury resorts. There just aren’t that many companies nationwide willing or able to take on that kind of commitment.”
Looking ahead, Brooks said Riverbend Charities plans to organize a smaller-scale event in Pinehurst in 2026, with Forest Foods offering support for the transition.
Efforts to identify a new title sponsor for the state’s premier golf event will continue throughout the year, with Riverbend Charities also working to streamline its operating costs. “We have some reserves to sustain us for a while,” Brooks said. “Our goal remains raising money for charity. We’re focused on making 2026 a success and planning for what’s next in 2027.”
