Elyse Okada has trouble believing her time in the Maui Interscholastic League is over.

The recent Maui High School graduate, who recorded an unprecedented four individual league golf titles, is now making her exit.

''To tell you the truth, it still doesn't seem that big to me because it's been so long that I've been playing,'' she said to The Maui News. ''It's just one tournament at a time. It seems like it's still not over, but really it is.''

Even in a career filled with wins, Okada's senior season stands out.

For starters, she had to come from behind in this year's MIL championship, and both her high expectations, and what others thought, added pressure.

''I don't think I've ever had to come from behind, so this year was a really exciting tournament for me and I really enjoyed the competition,'' said the Maui Interscholastic League Girls Golfer of the Year, who this season also earned her highest individual finish at the state tournament, placing fourth as the Sabers took third in the team competition. ''From the beginning of the MIL individuals, I finally realized, 'This is my last tournament and I want to go out with a bang.'

''Everyone thinks you get better by your senior year and I wanted to prove them right and stay strong throughout the season.''

While Okada's prep career is over, Justin Keiley, a junior-to-be at Baldwin and the MIL Boys Player of the Year, has a growing — and glowing — golf resume.

Keiley won the MIL title and took third in the state tournament, leading the Bears to a runner-up finish in the team standings.

''(Winning the MIL) gave me confidence because it showed me that practicing every day and all the matches helped, and it all paid off,'' he said. ''I had a lot of confidence in my game.''

Keiley also gained some valuable lessons prior to the start of the season, when he competed in a tournament in California.

''I was tied for the lead after the first day and then I shot really bad the second day, and I gained experience from that, having the lead and being in the final group,'' he said.

Okada is one of three Sabers on the MIL first team — the others are Kelcie Kawano and Liana Otake. MIL individual runner-up Cassy Isagawa and Baldwin teammate Dayna Bersamin were also first-teamers.

Justin Keiley's brother and teammate Jonathan Keiley was on the boys first team, along with two St. Anthony players — MIL second-place finisher Taeksoo Kim and Andrew Wong — and Lahainaluna's Eric Emmel.

While Keiley has two years of high school golf remaining, Okada remembers what made it great.

''I really enjoyed high school golf,'' she said. ''It's different than playing individually during the summer … it's a really different type of atmosphere.

''It's a bit more relaxed but I guess there's still pressure because the local people really watch … that's what I get more comments on are MIL than any of my other tournaments.''

Keiley plans to stay busy this summer with various junior events, playing as often as eight days in a row this month, while Okada will be preparing to attend Oregon State in the fall, a transition she knows will take some getting used to.

''I'm expecting a very big difference compared to high school golf,'' Okada said. ''I know we're going to have a really strict regimen, workout, practice schedules.

''It's a team effort and we really want to go to the NCAA regionals and finals, so it'll be really different, but I'm looking forward to it.''

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