Quiazon's parents lived in Kane'ohe from 1978 to '81. Ria was born in Manila and grew up in Union City before playing four years at nearby Cal. Her collegiate career included all-region and Pac-10 second-team honors.

She tried the LPGA Qualifying School last year, finished all her classes in December, made the Filipino Open her first pro tournament in February, then graduated a few weeks ago.

In 16 days, she will play her first U.S. Women's Open, at Orchards Golf Club outside Boston.

"Of course it's something you think about when you're little," Quiazon said. "But I just really started thinking not only about making it but doing well. This year I'm visualizing it pretty clearly. It's a tournament where anything can happen because of the long rough, the slick greens and the Open field.

"It's not everyday I'm going to get to tee up in the same tournament as Annika. I hope that's something I can attain."

Yesterday, Quiazon made up for a rare all-but-windless day at Ko Olina by blowing through the morning round in even par. She took a four-shot lead over Amanda Wilson into the 20-minute break, then dropped the hammer on the field by firing a 1-under 71 in the afternoon.

"I was worried I would get tired and lose it mentally (in the second round)," Quiazon said. "It made me buckle down more."

Wilson realized she had to play more aggressively after lunch. Her putting would not cooperate.

RIA QUIAZON

Wilson, who shot a pair of 76s, was low amateur and is Hawai'i's first alternate. Pro Julie Miyagi (77-76), who works at Ko Olina, is second alternate and Hilo's Camie Hoshino (79-77), a golf pro in Japan, third alternate. Hoshino lost her putter between the seventh green and eighth tee yesterday morning and used her 3-wood to putt the final 10 holes.

Taiwan's Ko-Chen Yeh (80-79) took the final alternate slot.

An alternate can replace a qualifier from any of the sectionals, which continue through Tuesday. Hilo's Christel Tomori and Kailua's Bridget Dwyer, who qualified locally in Salinas, Calif., with Quiazon, will be in sectionals on the Mainland.

Honolulu 14-year-old Michelle Wie was given a special exemption from qualifying by the U.S. Golf Association. She tied for 39th at her first U.S. Women's Open, last year.

Quiazon had five birdies on a course set up to Open specifications yesterday (white tees at 6,520 yards). She hit nearly 70 percent of the greens in regulation. Combined with her short game, which was ranked third nationally her junior season, she was untouchable.

"Her game is good, her short game is awesome," Wilson said. "I learned I better work on my chipping. ...ÊShe doesn't make any big mistakes, and when she does, she gets out of them."

Quiazon's most compelling shots came in a three-hole span in the afternoon. She launched the ball 180 yards off her 7-wood to within six inches of the ninth hole for birdie. After hitting her drive out of bounds on the 11th, she dropped a 35-foot bogey putt.

She came to Hawai'i to play for the obvious reason — "Who wouldn't want to come to Hawai'i?" — and the not so obvious: It was a chance to play against different competition. She also had fond memories after finishing second at the collegiate tournament at Kapolei in 2002.

Nothing personal, but a few golfers wished Quiazon had stayed home for her sectional.

"I was thinking about playing in the Open after the (local) qualifier," said Wilson, who was medalist locally. "I wanted to go so bad. I wanted to see how I would do against LPGA players. I would love to play in that."