Frosh Nogawa, sophomore George capture ILH golf titles

Keelee Nogawa has arrived.

The Punahou freshman captured the ILH girls golf championship on a breezy morning at Hoakalei Country Club. Nogawa carded a 3-over-par 75, and finished with a two-round 147. That was four strokes ahead of Hawaii Baptist senior Jacey Kage (77-74) and six strokes ahead of Buffanblu teammate Sydney Fuke (80-73).

“I’m really proud of my teammates. We had a great season. Also, I’m really thankful for my coaches, because they’re awesome,” Nogawa said.

Nogawa was in a position of power after carding an astounding first-round 72 last week on a brutally unforgiving course at the Pearl at Kalauao. Since renovation a year ago, the course is more hilly than ever, and the greens are still extremely fast.

“I’ve been playing at Pearl since I was 6 1/2,” Nogawa said. “At Pearl, the greens are very deceptive and it makes playing your shots very difficult. You just have to play the wind, play the slope. Over here (at Hoakalei), it’s very difficult to stay out of trouble. The bunkers are tough and there are a lot of water hazards.”

Punahou’s Samantha Monroe placed fourth (82-75) and Bri-Ella Nakagawa took fifth (85-78).

Maryknoll sophomore Taylor George won the ILH boys championship, finishing three strokes ahead of Punahou’s Anthony Uehara, Coel Berady and Carson Kage.

Maximus Waiki of HBA placed fourth (79-74). First-round leader Thomas Kim of ‘Iolani had a one-stroke lead, but posted an 80 at Hoakalei to finish five strokes off the leader.

George had a busy weekend, playing in the Mid-Pacific Open for four days, but showed no fatigue. The first round of the ILH championships was the day before the Mid-Pacific Open — last Wednesday — which means George powered through six consecutive days of golf. It is a good life on the links for a 15-year-old, but the hazards of Pearl test every golfer’s mettle.

Hoakalei is somewhere on the other side of the terrain spectrum.

“These greens hold a little more. They don’t bounce. The par-3s are a little more challenging,” George said. “You’ve got to play smart. (I had) no bunkers today. A couple snap hooks, but they landed by the hole. The wind wasn’t too much of a problem today.”

Like Nogawa, George has played for a decade.

“When I was a little kid, I would always cry after a bad shot, you know? I learned you can’t do that,” he said. “Today, I feel good.”

Nogawa has been a prominent performer in Hawaii junior golf. By the end of 2025, she ranked No. 174 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings. She won the 2025 TaylorMade Preview at Bentwater Golf Club in Acworth, Ga. In July 2025, she earned a medal at the Wichita Junior Qualifier.

In ’24, she qualified for the IMG Academy Junior World Championship girls 13-14 division. In ’23, Nogawa won the FCG Hawaii Championship.

Punahou assistant coach Anna Murata was visibly ecstatic for Nogawa moments before the medal ceremony.