"A lot of people expected a lot from me coming in this year. I saw my picture on the program. It was a lot of pressure, and I kinda felt that," Wie said yesterday.

The 14-year-old from Honolulu has responded by playing better and better each day. She will have the opportunity to win back-to-back Publinx titles after logging quarterfinal and semifinal victories yesterday at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club's Green Course.

The winner will come from the 14-15 age group. Joining Wie in the final is Ya-Ni Tseng, a 15-year-old from Taiwan who is making her first appearance on a big stage.

Wie whipped collegian Jenna Pearson, 5 and 4, in the quarterfinals and eliminated Angela Park, another 15-year-old from Torrance, Calif., 2 and 1, in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Tseng, who has come to the United States during the past four summers to compete, won a round of 16 match (halted by darkness Friday) by making a birdie on the 22nd hole (20 Friday, two yesterday morning), then proceeded to dismantle Hannah Jun, 7 and 5 in the quarters. Tseng won her semifinal 1-up against 15-year-old In-Bee Park, who knocked out medalist Brittany Lang in a dramatic quarterfinal that went 22 holes.

"This will definitely be a great experience to play with a great champion like Michelle. I hope to play my best, and if I play well and lose, I'll still be happy," Tseng said through her chaperone and interpreter Ernie Huang, who lives near San Diego.

Tseng never trailed in her match with In-Bee Park. She was 3 up through six holes, saw the lead slip to 1 up through No. 16 and halved the last two holes with par and birdie to win.

Wie and Angela Park put on a birdie show in the semifinals. The two recorded 12 birdies between them. Wie was relieved to see her par putt go down on the 17th hole to end the match.

"It was really tough (this afternoon). Angela played superbly ... I couldn't breathe the whole time," Wie said. "I had to make so many putts, and I'm so proud of myself that I did."

Park birdied the 12th and 13th holes to pull even, but Wie responded with a birdie on the 14th to regain the lead.

"I felt comfortable with the pin position, and I put pressure on myself (to get it close)," she said.

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U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship Quarterfinals: Michelle Wie, Honolulu, def. Jenna Pearson, Wheaton, Ill., 5 and 4. Buoyed by three birdies, Wie took a 5-up lead after nine holes and cruised to victory. Semifinals: Michelle Wie, Honolulu, def. Angela Park, Torrance, Calif., 2 and 1. The match was all squared through 13 holes. Wie won the par-4 14th with birdie, then clinched it on the 17th with par. Today's Championship (36 holes): Michelle Wie, Honolulu, vs. Ya-Ni Tseng, Taiwan.

Wie has cited improvement in her game daily this week, and her desire to win is stronger than ever.

"I've made it this far, and I don't want to drop at the end," she said. "You know that kind of feeling when you've tried so hard, but you just didn't get there. I don't want to feel that."

The quarterfinal victory over Pearson, who was runner-up for medalist honors, was the easiest of the week for Wie.

She was 3 under and bogey free in the morning session that was plagued by rain. Wie birdied the third, fifth and eighth holes and won the sixth and ninth with pars to turn 5 up. She won the 10th with a par, then cruised from there. Pearson won only one hole, the 12th with a birdie.

"I really tried to play my game and make birdies, but the putts didn't fall for me," Pearson said. "They fell for her. She took the lead and kept it. She isn't going to drop a lot of shots."

Pearson, who plays at the University of South Carolina, insisted she wasn't intimidated by Wie.

"Maybe she is to some people, but I try not to be intimidated by anyone," Pearson said. "I tried not to think about playing her too much. She's a tough competitor. She's a good player, just l everyone else out here."

Angela Park isn't surprised the final has come down to two juniors.

"They have nothing to lose," she said. "College players are out there thinking I have to do this, I have to do that. ... They have a lot to worry about. The juniors are out there thinking I'm going to win. That's all they have on their mind."