Senior Golfers of Illinois (SGI) Hosted Their First PIDGT

By: Maria Girlie Pascual

 

The Philippine Independence Golf Tournament or PIDGT started way back in the 70’s when a few golfers decided to celebrate Philippine Independence Day in Chicago with a tournament that will be open to all golfers of all levels, provided they have a verifiable handicap. Bert Roman, founder of the Philippine Golf Club of Chicago or PGC, started the PIDGT with a few players from different leagues, and more than 30 years later, this event has grown to include 200 golfers and at least 6 active local clubs, and just last year, accepted a team from Missouri to compete with the golfers from Illinois. With their individual teams, the various organizations pitted their best players against the other golfers in a spirit of friendly competition. Some seasoned players from the hosting club of the Senior Golfers of Illinois or SGI have played in the early years of the PIDGT and know how popular this tournament is to Filipino leagues. In fact, some golfers have supported this annual outing for over 30 years but with Bert Roman’s guidance, the PIDGT has become one of the rare groups of united Filipinos that have risen above the norm of short lived unions and competing egos. This is the only organization I know that have no other spin-off or copycat groups, although others have tried, to hold a similar outing but failed. Such is the success of the PIDGT and I do commend “Tito Bert Roman” as he is fondly called by the younger players, for being consistent in his vision, unwavering in his decisions guided by the United States GolfAssociation (USGA) Rules, and fair with the different clubs and their officers.

This year was another banner year for PIDGT. A new tournament venue was chosen. The Links at Carillon, is a tricky, hazard riddled, deceivingly tough golf course whose undulating greens and picturesque landscape was a land mine of mistakes waiting to happen. And happen they did. With Moans and groans from the best players, a new crop of winners emerged from the different teams. I am proud to say that they all deserved to sin. With a scorching 94 degree heat and a blustery, unpredictable windy gusts of 35 mph winds, the winners worked for their trophies, and here they all are: This year, the SGI Committee came up with a different set of rules and classifications and as of 2 pm today, here is what they sent me via email: Overall Champion Low Gross is 17 year old Raymond Cordova of the Fil- Am Golfers of Lake County who shot an awesome score of 76 that blustery, scorching day.

Low Net Champion for the Men was Elbert Regacho, also from the Fil-Am Golfers of Lake County (Tiebreaker rule was enforced between him and Domie Lico of SGI), net 62

Low Net Champion Ladies was Asian American Golfers of Illinois AAGI President Ellen Ruiz, whose name was not announced because of human error, but was declared the winner today with a net score of 67

Division A Champion: A tie between Raul Ecijan of Golfinos and Dennis Dulce of Tamaraw, both had a net score of 65

Division B Champion: Vince Gacgacao of Tamaraw with a net score of 65

Division C Champion: Elbert “Lakay” Regacho of Fil-Am Golfers of Lake County with a net score of 62

Division D Champion: Domie Lico of Senior Golfers of Illinois with a net score of 62

Overall Team Champion was Golfinos, led by Raul Ecijan’s winning score w officers Albert Jovellanos and Ernie Catral Second Place was the Fil-Am Golfers of Lake County championed by Elbert Regacho’s great golfing w officers Tony Casapao and Francis Boniquit Third Place went to Tamaraw led by Dennis Dulce’s tie for first place men’s Division, w officers Greg Aglipay, Lito Siwa and Abe Barcebal Fourth was hosting club SGI, the Philswing Ladies Team w Clarita Reuer came in 5th, Filipino League of Golfers or Flog was 6th, Philippine Golf Club w/ Bert Roman at 7th, AAGI team at 8th, although I have a strong feeling that we went up in rank with Ellen Ruiz’s corrected result, along w VP Robert Delacruz, 9th was Phil-Am Eagles headed by Tony Antonio, and Lucky 10th place went to the Philippine Senior Golfers Association or PSGA with new President Pat Mangulabnan, the newest league to be formed recently, 2 years ago.

The Guest Winner (Wanted to play but was not a member of any league) was 19 year old Matt Mamparo who won with his Low Net score of 73. He’s looking for a “sponsor”.

AAGI also won three Longest Drive Holes with James Delacruz’s 347 yards “killer drive” on the Blue Course, Robert Delacruz’s 330 yard pure shot on the White Course, and ever consistent Carla Soria’s 280 yards on the Red Course—Congratulations!

The Senior Golfers of Illinois headed by Overall Chairman Silvestre “Bes” Sulit and Event Chairman Manny Palma were assisted by the different officers and members of the various committees including Leads Ben Obedoza who was in charge of the Tournament Rules. Kudos to him and his committee members Cesar Canonigo, Manny Palma, Jun Benito and Doc Lito Fernandez who went back to giving us the Ladies forward tees as they should, because this tee box was declared at the very first meeting, then changed when they saw how some of the ladies were hitting, (NATAKOT), but brought it back to the right tee box when the ladies complained for the unfair change in tee boxes. Lesson learned boys…play nice with the girls! Bert Valencia helped Manny Palma and Ken Arnbruster with the venue and the pre-registration process, Rene Ona was in charge of the Pairings, along with his team members Ollie Olvena, Ben Miranda and Ken Armbruster. The all important scoring committee’s headaches were equally shared by lead Cesar Canonigo with members Ben Miranda, Ken Armbruster and Doc Lito Fernandez–again, good job in rectifying human errors–we are not professional players, and there are too many moving parts to hosting a big tournament of 200 players that sometimes, things can slip but thankfully, these were handled the right way. Awards and Prizes were led by Jun Benito, Ben and Rene, with a lot of help from the SGI Ladies Auxilliary Group. The Money Men, the Financial Committee was led by Jess Joaquin, SGI Club Treasurer, assisted by Bes Sulit, Ollie Olvena and Rey Febre. The Entertainment was handled ably by DJ Freddie Alba, Souvenir Program by Bes Sulit, Bert Valencia and the SGI Ladies, as well as the Banquet preparations and all other items that needed to be checked off the list. What will the SGI men do without their SGI LAdies Auxilliary, so praises to these wonderful women who helped make the 2017 Philippine Independence Golf Tournament the success that it was…MABUHAY and thank you to all the players, presidents, sponsors, donors and volunteers…until next year in 2018, which will be hosted by the largest and one of the oldest leagues in Chicagoland, the Tamaraw Group. Special shout out to my awesome foursome with Marc Villafania of PGC and Bert Gazmen of Tamaraw, along w my cart mate and tournament newbie Lou Andres, who I hope had fun on his very first PIDGT event–see you all again soon. Enjoy the photos and next time you see me—SMILE!

Big winners Division C Champ Elbert Regacho of Fil-Am Golfers of Lake County and Asian American Golfers AAGI President Ellen Ruiz is the Ladies Overall Low Net Champ

Low Gross Champion Raymond Cordova of Fil-Am Golfers of Lake County

Team Champions the Golfinos w Division A Champion Raul Ecijan , Dr Benny Ruz w the trophy and Albert Jovellanos w the check, flanked by Jun Miranda on the left, Teri Oblifias on the right

The Senior Golfers of Illinois Team w the SGI Ladies Auxiliary- Congratulations and Thank You for hosting the 2017 PIDGT

PIDGT Founder Bert Roman and his team Philippine Golf Club of Chicago PGC

Ladies Team of AAGI w AAGI Club Champion Rowe Esquivel, Longest Drive Winner Red Course Carla Soria, me and AAGI Club Prez. 2017 PIDGT Low Net Ladies Champion Ellen Ruiz

My cart mate SGI player Lou Andres– good day to play

Pretty Ladies all in Blue- the SGI Ladies Auxilliary- big wave to these dedicated golf mates

A gold rush for third place Team Division winners Fil-Am Golfers of Lake County, last year’s PIDGT hosts- congratulations!

PGC former President Marc Villafania at the Registration area at the Links of Carillon

The Asian American Golfers of Illinoi and Friends