Lee blows back into lead after third round
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
LANIKAI — On Friday Regan Lee finally let loose of the Mid-Pacific Open lead he had held for more than a year. Yesterday he grabbed it back, and then some.
At Mid-Pacific Country Club, Lanikai Third round Par-72 (36-36) Pro-Championship flight Regan Lee 68-74-68—210 A FLIGHT David Hamada 78-74-80—232 Tomi Yamada 77-83-75—235 B FLIGHT Don Miyashita 84-80-81—245
Lee was the only golfer to break par in the third round at blustery Mid-Pacific Country Club. Lee snaked in a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to shoot 4-under-par 68 and surge ahead by six going into this morning's final round.
$25,000 Mid-Pac Open
Philip Chun 71-70-75—216
Kevin Hayashi 70-71-76—217
Brandan Kop (A) 72-74-72—218
Daniel Nishimoto 74-73-72—219
Mark Takahama 73-75-71—219
Jerry Mullen 72-72-76—220
Andrew Feldmann 72-74-74—220
Kevin Carll 72-73-75—220
Mark Chun (A) 71-75-74—220
Parker McLachlin (A) 72-72-77—221
E.A. Tischler 75-72-74—221
Tommy Ukauka 70-75-77—222
Shane Hoshino 77-73-72—222
Phillip Anamizu 74-74-74—222
Dean Prince 77-72-74—223
Brian Sasada 73-72-79—224
Jay Shannon Jr. 73-73-79—225
Satoru Tobita 76-72-77—225
Wade Nakamura 83-78-78—239
Maurice Nitta 80-80-79—239
Ron Serikaku 79-81-81—241
Ronald Ching 78-81-82—241
Michael Nakata 77-86-78—241
Vincent Yim 77-84-88—249
Brian Moore 89-78-83—250
Colin Ah Yat 83-82-85—250
Byron Kaneshige 89-82-80—251
Ralph Horii 87-82-82—251
Clifford Nishikawa 81-85-85—251
He is at 6-under 210, six up on Philip Chun and seven ahead of Kevin Hayashi. Former champion Brandan Kop — Lee's cousin — blew to the top of the Amateur Flight and into fourth overall with a 72 that put him at 218.
Lee led wire-to-wire a year ago, holding off Hayashi with a 16-under total that was a shot off the tournament record. That was in almost ideal conditions, with the wind kicking up only the final day.
This week Mid-Pacific has been at its most mischievous, and getting more mischievous by the moment. "Every day has been tougher than the last day last year," Lee said.
Lee's game has been up to the gusty challenge two out of three days. He let his opening-round advantage get away Friday when he shot 74, falling two behind Hayashi and Chun.
"I struggled with everything," admitted Lee, who is fine-tuning his game for a second season on the Gateway Tour this summer.
His homework before the third round consisted mostly of putting. The payoff came in the form of just 28 putts yesterday on Mid-Pacific's glass-like greens, despite playing it safe on most of his approach shots.
"On a lot of the holes I couldn't go for the pin," Lee said. "You had to play the safe side and two-putt. I made a lot of good two-putts."
While Lee played it safe and birdied all the par-5s, those around him backed up. Chun (75) salvaged a difficult day — he hit just seven greens in regulation — by needing only 27 putts.
"It was a good score considering," said Chun, who finished second to Lee last year at the Mililani Rainbow Open. "I worked hard today."
Hayashi, who was runner-up to Lee here last year, was the closest pursuer until disaster struck. Hayashi's third birdie tied Lee at 4-under after 10 holes. But in the middle of his back nine (the leaders played the front last), Hayashi hit out of bounds, leading to double bogey. He followed with three bogeys.
Hayashi left his position as Pearl Country Club's head pro a few weeks ago to return to the Big Island full time. He says the decision has simplified his life and helped his game. He characterized his sudden slide yesterday as "a couple bad swings" and still believes there is a chance of catching Lee and capturing one of the few Hawai'i titles he has never won.
"I actually enjoyed it today," Hayashi said. "I didn't play well, but I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. It's a game of momentum. If someone can get on a roll and make birdies, you never know."
Chun is also optimistic — if the wind blows hard enough.
"We've got to have conditions like this or it will be really, really tough," he said. "Regan is not going to back up."
SHORT PUTTS: Larry Stubblefield won the Senior Flight, played over the first two days with an 18-hole playoff yesterday. Stubblefield and Tommy Ukauka tied at 1-over 145, with Stubblefield's 72 yesterday winning the playoff by five shots. ... Stubblefield, the 2001 Mid-Pacific Open champion, grew up on the golf course, while Ukauka is a member. ... There are five senior players in the Top 20 overall. Stubblefield and Dan Nishimoto (72) are tied for fifth, Ukauka and Phil Anamizu (74) are 14th and Dean Prince (74) is 17th.
