150 golfers from 22 countries have come to Harford County to compete in the major that’s now in its fifth year at the Havre de Grace course.
Organizers say the tournament once raised well over $3 million, but last year it had difficulty raising about a third of that.
"This year we're $700,000 short of our revenue and I'm glad we don't have one more year," said Herb Lotman, the tournament’s chairman.
The tournament is expected to draw about 90,000 spectators this week, and tourism officials say they hope many of them see enough of the area that they’d like to make a return trip.
“The interest in Havre de Grace, just the fact that it has been mentioned throughout the world due to this tournament, it’s put us on the map again,” said Havre de Grace Tourism Director Brigitte Peters.
Since its inception 28 years ago, it has raised more than $46 million for children’s charities.
