The 2022 Interstate Golf Tournament Comeback In West Virginia Was A Huge Success

By: Maria Girlie Pascual

 

Back in 2020, the Asian American Golfers of Illinois, or the AAGI league, was preparing to host the two decade old Interstate Golf Tournament (IGT) after hosting it back in 2011 Illinois, when the presence of COVID 19 put the brakes on our tournament that year. We were following the Philippine American Golf Association of Kentucky or PAGAK’s hosting in 2019 led by Dr. Jonathan Eugenio, son of the original founder of IGT, Dr. Henry Eugenio. It was a tournament we looked forward to hosting, and we had already booked the golf courses, made the hotel reservations and picked the menus for the banquet venues. Alas, it all came to a screeching halt when the country shut down for safety.

The IGT was started back in 1999 by the players of Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois. Back then, they had the best golf courses lined up for the four-day weekend that started with the customary “Meet & Greet” on a Friday, the tournament rounds on Saturday and Sunday, the Saturday party being the main event, ending with the more casual, but climactic Sunday awards dinner. These dinners were epic. Participants had their individual state banners with their logos, entering the ballroom in their Filipiniana attire, and every league had to prepare an entertainment number for the evening. Live bands, elegant attire and fancy trophies, prizes were the norm, each state trying to “one-up” each other every year that the tournament was held. But things have changed, with the more casual, competitive younger players taking over, they have done away with the fancy attire and dinners, but strengthened the more important bonds of friendship and friendly, fair competition. The younger crop of leaders and players of the different leagues have continued the tradition of the goals the IGT was built on, namely, the love of golf, sportsmanship. competitive play, and lifelong friendships between families. We are happy to say the original vision has been successfully upheld, as shown by the enthusiastic participation in this year’s IGT revival, led by Team West Virginia who were inspired by the dynamic husband-and-wife team of Dr. Ramon and Thelma Lansang, assisted by former residents Oscar “Bong” Ibrahim and wife Zurita, now Texas residents. From a small group of retired and semi-retired players, they now have a robust roster of upwards of 30 full-time energetic players, with West Virginia hosting weekly matches in their weekend rounds, plus inviting friendly competitors from their neighboring states of Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina to play with them at least every month. These monthly golf outings started back in 2021 after the Covid 19 vaccine rollouts. These small events fueled their desire and confidence to host and invite all of the previous IGT participants this year. Players from five states agreed to converge in West Virginia over the Labor Day weekend and reunite with familiar friends and faces.

The participating states this year were hosts West Virginia with Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, North Carolina and Georgia. The big winners statewide were shared by both West Virginia and Kentucky, but the big news was the young 23-year-old son of Dr. Ramon and Thelma Lansang, RANIEL LANSANG, as the Low Net Champion of the 2022 Interstate Golf Tournament besting more than 90 golfers from the different states. Another notable was a septuagenarian by the name of Dr. Tony Donato of Kentucky who bested players from the young 20’s all the way up to the high 80’s, the oldest player at 84 years old. The Ladies Low Net and Low Gross Champion was a sweep by first time IGT attendee named Tess Hamilton who handily trounced all the female golfers, but AAGI’s own Cristina Plata received the honorable 2nd Place Low Net Award for her valiant efforts attacking these mountain courses with her best game. Congratulations to all the winners! I would like to mention that I totally enjoyed my frustrating, two days playing with Ms Boday Bores, a former Hawaiian resident now a Kentucky player, Zurita Ibrahim of Texas, West Virginia organizer Thelma Lansang and the Ladies Champion of this year’s IGT, Ms Tess Hamilton of Georgia. They have inspired me to work harder on my game (again). Maybe I will join the Super Seniors on their tee box next year. LOL.

Special thanks to the AAGI officers and players who participated this year, making the ten-hour drive to the Glade Springs Resort where the daunting mountain courses of Stonehaven and Woodhaven tested our skills, patience, physical and mental fortitude. AAGI President Joe Molina, Rules Chairman Clive Merrill, Tournament Director James Dela Cruz, former AAGI president Rowel Plata, with his wife lady champ Cristina Plata, loyal and strong player Ed Ranchero with his supportive wife Lolit, Former AAGI President Jessie Magsino, my brothers Brent on his very first IGT Tournament landed an “almost Eagle” shot on a par 4, mountainous 320 yard hole at the Woodhaven Course (he bogied the hole), Bently Pascual with his wife Pie and daughter Sabrina, and yours truly, who is good at writing this article but was lacking in her golf skills that weekend.

The Interstate Golf Tournament or IGT 2023 will be hosted by the super-friendly, competitive and entertaining North Carolina players led by Lhet Mendoza and his officers. The exciting venue for those of you who would like to join is at the historical Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina, also called “The Cradle of American Golf” where it has been played for over 125 years. Come join us–everyone is welcome. Contact me through Via Times or on Facebook. We would love to have more golfers, man or woman, young or old, and everything in-between, come play the game, we all love to hate, but keeps us coming back over and over. As golfers, we continue to hope to see that ball sail over the hazards, the bunkers, to fly unfettered until it lands softly on the green, and roll effortlessly to the hole to make that unique sound of the ball hitting the bottom of the cup, signaling a satisfying end to the round. Until next time, FORE!

The ladies of the 2022 IGT (L-R back row) Marilyn Donato of Kentucky, Cris Plata AAGI of Illinois, Thelma Lansang next to Zurita Ibrahim both W Virginia, Boday Bores of Kentucky, (L-R front row) Overall Ladies Champ w her game face on are Tess Hamilton of Georgia, Bani Anselmo of W Virginia & Girlie Pascual AAGI Illinois

Team W Virginia w Lady Champ Tess Hamilton from Georgia at the center

The AAGI Players L-R Lady low net 2nd place winner Cris Plata w hubby Rowel, James DC w yours truly, Clive Merrill & Ed Ranchero at the Woodhaven Course

The 2022 IGT group photo at the Woodhaven course in West Virginia

Next year’s 2023 IGT hosts North Carolina team w “fancy pants” leader L het Mendoza at the center

AAGI player Cris Plata bags Low Net 2nd place – congratulations

Open Tournament founders and IGT revivalists James DC of Illinois, Dr Jonathan Eugenio of Kentucky and former West Virginia resident Bong Ibrahim get reunited in 2022

Left to Right Low Gross Class A champ RJ Hijalda, center is Raniel Lansang Overall Low Gross Champ and Class B Low Gross Champ Dennis Anciro

Girlie reunited w Dr Jack & Kathy Mendoza, and Dr Leo Galang, Dr Ruben Estrada all from West Virginia, all gracious tournament sponsors

Happy to just play – the AAGI Club w Brent & Bently Pascual, Rowel & Cris Plata, Joe Molina, Clive Merrill, Jessie Magsino and James DC

Kentucky Team first day of the tournament

State winning team of West Virginia shares the award with the Kentucky team – CONGRATULATIONS

The hosts of 2022 IGT Team West Virginia

Proud parents of Overall Low Gross Champion Raniel Lansang are West Virginia tournament organizers Dr Ramon and wife Thelma Lansang

Co-State Team Championship winners Philippine American Golfers of Kentucky PAGAk -Congratulations!

All teams at the Second day play at the Stonehaven Course in Glade Springs W Virginia