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Isagawa back with Bears as boys’ coach

By Robert Collias 4 min read

WAIKAPU -- When Baldwin High School did not have enough players to field a boys golf team last year, Cassy Isagawa knew she had to do something to help her alma mater.

Isagawa -- a former state champion for the Bears, Junior PGA National champ and All-American at the University of Oregon -- is now the Bears' boys head coach.

"I actually had (Baldwin girls) coach Shane (Yamasaki) here, who actually convinced me to try it out because I've been home now for a little while," Isagawa said Saturday after the Bears lost a dual match against Kamehameha Maui at Kahili Golf Course. "I really wanted to give back in junior golf in some sort of way. I heard there were boys that were interested in playing, knowing that they didn't have a coach, and Baldwin having such a successful history of golfers, I felt that I owed it to them to come back and give it a shot."

After having just two boys golfers last year, the Bears have 10 this season, including six freshmen.

Isagawa is currently taking a break from her fledgling professional career and working at the Wailea Blue Course -- she is also working on her PGA certification that would allow her to be an assistant or head professional or teaching pro at a golf course.

Yamasaki became a Baldwin assistant coach for the Bears in 2010, the year Isagawa won the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state title as a junior.

"He's been so supportive of all of us all the way," Isagawa said. "We've always kept a good relationship throughout the years and knowing that I'm back here and he's the head coach for the girls and I'm head coach for the boys, it's very nice that I can lean on someone that's been through it."

The Bears lost to Kamehameha Maui 178-217 on Saturday to fall to 0-2 in the Maui Interscholastic League team standings, but Isagawa's players all appeared to be happy to be playing in the team portion of the season after not participating last year.

"We had two, but the other didn't really show up, so it was basically me," junior Glenn Agorilla said after shooting 57 on Saturday. "It feels real nice and supportive to have a team because now I actually get to play with teammates instead of just being solo on the course."

Having perhaps the best Baldwin golfer ever -- boy or girl -- back as a coach is special for Agorilla.

"It's pretty cool because she helps us a lot on our swing and she gets our games, like, a lot better," he said. "She creates drills to help us."

Agorilla knows just who his new coach is.

"It's actually legendary -- I've never thought of a professional like her helping us out this year as a coach," Agorilla said. "It just came unexpected. It is pretty neat, seeing her as an alumni coming back to do this. She can actually help us a lot if we put the time into it."

Agorilla was joined on the Baldwin scoring team by Brendan Endo, who shot 48; Aaron Nakamura, who had a 53; and Dillon Tom, who shot 59. Their non-counting score Saturday was a 61 from Nainoa Pagaduan.

Kamehameha Maui (2-0) was led by Dane Abarra's 40. Jordan Mitsumura had a 43, Puniawa Vedder shot 44 and Kody Cambra had a 51. The Warriors' throw-out score was a 56 from Marcus Ayau.

Abarra is an MIL first-team All-Star running back who plans to walk on to the football team at Nevada-Las Vegas. Seeing a name he used to read about guiding the Bears brought a smile to his face.

"It's good that she came back and helped out her school as an alumni coaching," Abarra said. "With the experience that she has, she can bring Baldwin up to what they were when they had all those great teams."

The Warriors appear to have the talent to challenge for the MIL team title. The Bears make it a seven-team field among MIL boys.

"I like it because we have another team to compete against, more rounds to practice," Abarra said. "This is the best team we've had since I started playing in high school. We just have fun out there."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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