Asian American Golfers of Illinois Hosts The 2024 Interstate Golf Tournament

By: Maria Girlie Pascual

We could not have asked for a better weekend for golf. Blue skies, a balmy breeze, warm, perfect temperature in the mid 70’s were all auspicious signs that we were going to have a great Labor Day weekend for the 26 year old Interstate Golf Tournament or IGT…and we did indeed. This traditional outing started with four original states. They were Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois. Over the years, different factors like leadership changes, aging members, retiring players have affected the number of participants along with their home states, resulting in a new line-up that include West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and IGT newcomer of four years, North Carolina.

It has always been held on a Labor Day weekend. The participating golfers from the different states usually fly or drive to the hosting state and compete for two days, at courses that challenge and inspire the traveling troops of players of different handicap levels. This year, a total of 84 competitors from four states tackled the rolling hills, links style Robert Trent Jones designed course located in West Chicago, next to the Dupage airport on the first day. Prairie Landing has been voted one of the best courses in Illinois and its beauty hides the treacherous twists and turns in its magnificent design. On Day 2, the St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, also in West Chicago, was the site of the final day of competition. Built in the 1920’s, it opened three years after the original Saint Andrews course in Scotland opened in 1929.

Food, fun and friendly competition have always been the main themes that rule IGT, so Friday, August 30, 2024, was the “Meet & Greet” held at Shiki Buffet in Glendale Heights were golfers and officers, members, family and friends reunited for dinner to catch up for the whole year from the last tournament. Following the first game at Prairie Landing, AAGI hosted a picnic at the Bloomingdale Golf Club where the famished and tired golfers enjoyed beef ribs, broasted barbecue chicken and the grand presentation of a whole roasted pig or “Lechon”, compliments of the Philippine American Golfers of West Virginia. On the last day, Sunday September 1st, an awards banquet was held at the Medinah Shriners Banquet in Addison and the winners were announced after dinner, dessert, raffle drawings and line dancing.

Congratulations to the Philippine American Golf Association of Kentucky (PAGAK) for winning the IGT 2024 Team competition, and for the individual winners including Khai Vo for Overall IGT Low Net Champion from Kentucky, and yearly winner Raniel Lansang of West Virginia for bagging the highly coveted Overall Low Gross Champion trophy.

Class A Low Gross win went to golfer singer/rapper Anthony Vanharstsvelt of Kentucky, Class A Low Net went to Jun Delariarte of North Carolina. History was made when for the first time in its 26 years, a woman player won Class B Low Gross category and this honor went to Rowena Esquivel, along with Arsenio Miki Pascual who won the Class B Low Net trophy. Both, I am proud to say, are AAGI players. The Senior Low Gross trophy was won by Greg Davies of Kentucky and the Senior Low Net trophy went to Raul Del Fiero of North Carolina. The Ladies Low Gross winner was Carla Soria, and yours truly was a surprise Ladies Low Net Champion.

All in all it was an amazing tournament put together by the officers and members of the AAGI league led by Club President Joe Molina, Tournament Director James Dela Cruz, Rules & Regulations Chairman Clive Merrill, Team Scorers Brent Pascual & Carla Soria, money man and Treasurer Gerry Liwanag, choreographer Cris Plata, dessert queens Dodjie Pascual, Virgie Magsino and Ching Schneider and overall IGT coordinator Maria Girlie Pascual. Without our players, members, spouses, family and friends, this year’s IGT would not have been the resounding success that it was. Special thanks to our Eagle Sponsor Jan Paul Ferrer, our Birdie Sponsor Advent Home Health Services of Oakbrook and Par Sponsor Medical Wound Care Inc with Ed and Lolit Ranchero. Thank you to our Illinois and West Virginia Hole Sponsors, our raffle donors Carla Soria and Rowena Esquivel, Brent Pascual, Ray Adorable, trophy donors Ching Schneider and Clive Merrill, the MUZIK ENGINE BAND with Grace Pamelar, Bong Usman and Olivia Tigresse, volunteers Elizabeth Regacho, Mika Pascual, water and cooler donors Jay Mendoza, Kris Wildoer, Clive Merrill, Francis Bernasol and Charles Uy.

Special recognition to members of the IGT original founders and players our AAGI President Joe Molina, Dr. Lito Fernandez, Clive Merrill and Ching Schneider of Illinois, Dr. Jun Santa Ana, Dr Ruben with wife Dr Christie Estrada, Dr Leo Galang of West Virginia, Dr Tony and Marilyn Donato of Kentucky who still show up and play every year, reminding us of our love and passion for the game we all love and hate. Thank you to the state leaders and coordinators Dr Jonathan Eugenio of Kentucky, Lhet Mendoza of North Carolina, Oscar Bong Ibrahim and Dr Ramon Lansang of West Virginia for bringing their team to Illinois along with their spirit of competition and fair play, outstanding sportsmanship.

And finally, kudos and congratulations to our AAGI 2024 IGT warriors who gave it their all, including our friends from other Illinois groups that joined us to represent our state—Ray Adorable, Ray Agbunag, Helen Aninag, Francis Bernasol, Rio and Alice Buenaobra, Limuel Cordero, James Dela Cruz, Rowena Esquivel, Dr Lito Fernandez, Jan Paul Ferrer, Tony Graziano, Jessie Magsino, Celio Manaois, Andrew Jay Mendoza, Clive Merrill, Joe Molina, Neil Roldan, Brent and Miki Pascual, Cris and Rowel Plata, Ed Ranchero, Elbert and Paul Regacho, Ching Schneider, Carla Soria, Charles Uy, Rudy Villanueva and yours truly.

Until next time, we hope to see all of you in Kentucky for the IGT 2025. Mabuhay!

Registration at St Andrews Golf Course with the golfers from Kentucky Cathy & Kevin Underwood & Toto Hijalda.

GMAILTeam Illinois with the hosts Asian American Golfers of Illinois.

Longest Drive Champ Jay Mendoza with my son Kris Wildoer at Prairie Landing Golf Course IGT 2024 Day 1.

Team Kentucky Philippine Golf Association of Kentucky

AAGI lady players Girlie, Carla Soria & Cris Plata with West Virginia golfers Thelma Lansang & Zurita Ibrahim at the first tee.

Team West Virginia.

Major supporter and golfer Jan Paul Ferrer with Girlie at the registration booth

Golfing gals just want to have fun (L-R) Girlie Pascual, Helen Aninag of Illinois, Dr Christy Estrada of West Virginia, Cathy Underwood of Kentucky, Thelma Lansang of West Virginia & Ching Schneider of AAGI.

Pretty in pink – AAGI players before teeing off.

Scoring with the four states on the last day at St Andrews.

It’s a Family Affair with Kris Wildoer, son of Girlie Pascual & her brother Brent after the game

St Andrews main guy Chinda Khiev flanked by father and son Brent & Miki Pascual.

Anthony & Jeff from Kentucky bring the house down.

Golfers at the picnic with Neil Roldan, Limuel Cordero & Elbert Regacho.

Delicious lechon at the picnic after the game with Ching Schneider & Cris Plata.

The 3 Amigos: Organizers Oscar Ibrahim from West Virginia & Texas, Dr Jon Eugenio from Kentucky & AAGI officer James Dela Cruz
share a moment together.