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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 7:39 p.m., Sunday, April 23, 2006

Ishii wins Mid-Pacific Open

Ann Miller

LANIKAI — As if Hawai'i needed more evidence of David Ishii's excellence, and Kevin Hayashi needed another way not to win the Mid-Pacific Open.

Ishii, about to be inducted into the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame, played his precise best yesterday to win for the third time at Mid-Pacific Country Club. He closed with a 4-under-par 68, dropping the hammer with birdies on the final two holes.

Hayashi, who had led since an opening-round 67, could manage only 77 in the final round and finished three back. Swirling winds, treacherous pin placements and rain-fed mega-rough that required up to four spotters a hole pretty much had everyone but Ishii — and low amateur winner Brandan Kop, who shot 71 — at its mercy.

Which is what Hayashi asked Ishii for when it was over. Hayashi, a 43-year-old four-time Aloha Section Player of the Year, has now finished second at Mid-Pac five times. It is the only major local event he has yet to win.

"I'm proud of David," Hayashi said. "A lot of people, especially the young kids, they only know David from the David Ishii Foundation. They haven't had a chance to play with David. If David starts playing more local events the kids will benefit.

"Of course we (adults) hope he goes back on tour," Hayashi joked, "but they're going to find out that David is the elite player in the state. There's no doubt about that."

Ishii won the 43rd version of the Mid-Pac Open 16 years after he last played it and 17 after he last won it. Asked if it was his first win since turning 50 (last July) Ishii grinned: "It's my first win in I don't know how many years."