LANIKAI — On a Mid-Pacific Country Club course so sophisticated and "weathered" that fathers are beating sons, Kevin Hayashi takes a one-shot advantage over Casey Nakama into today's final round of the Mid-Pacific Open.

The leaders have golfed together nearly half their lives, since Nakama, 47, convinced Hayashi, 43, to join him on the Asian Tour in the '80s.

Nakama, who initially created Michelle Wie's golf swing, won here a decade ago but has been so involved with his Casey Nakama Golf Development Center recently his last victory came at the 2001 Maui Open.

"It's so good to see Casey playing well again," said Hayashi, who gets some of the credit. Nakama believes a swing tip he got from Hayashi at last year's State Open made the difference in his game.

Hayashi, the Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year every odd year this decade, has seemingly won everything with the exception of Mid-Pac.

"I feel a little more pressure to win this tournament because I haven't," said Hayashi, who lost a four-shot lead in the final three holes to Greg Meyer here in 1999. "I do think about it. It's one that I would like to win more than I would care to admit."

Hayashi shot an even-par 72 yesterday that left him at 4-under 212. Nakama's 70 was the day's low round and vaulted him past Japan's Kenichiro Kato (72-215), who was second here in 2003.

No other golfer is under par. But, on a course where the rough is "lost-ball" deep because of the recent rains and the greens are traditionally treacherous, no leader feels safe. Particularly with a pack of prominent seniors in close pursuit.

"Things turn around so quickly here," said Nakama, who has finished second twice at Mid-Pac since winning. "David (Ishii) is back there so we think he'll play good tomorrow. We thought he'd play good today and we expect him to be in there tomorrow. Over here we got to just keep plodding along and hopefully it will be good enough."

Ishii, 50, won the 36-hole Senior Championship and $1,000 Friday with scores of 72-75. He added a 71 yesterday — the only sub-par score other than Nakama's — and is in sixth place, six shots back.

Ishii has two titles here, setting the tournament record at 271 when he won by 14 in 1986. Three other seniors are in the Top 10 — two-time winner Larry Stubblefield (76-224), eight-time champ Lance Suzuki (73-225) and Dean Prince (73-225).

A year ago Dave Eichelberger, who plays full time on the Champions Tour, shared second with Hayashi and Dan Nishimoto — another senior. They were a shot behind John Lynch.

"This is an 'experience' golf course," Nakama said. "You've got to play it a lot to know where you should be and where you cannot be."

Six holes and two Hayashi birdies into the third round, the leader was 6-under for the tournament and at least four up on everyone. But Hayashi, who opened with a 67, played his final 12 holes in 2-over while Nakama was making three birdies.

Hayashi's slim advantage ultimately came courtesy of No. 8, he and Nakama's 17th hole of the day and one hole after Nakama finally gained a share of first. Both found trouble, but Hayashi drained a four-footer for par while Nakama gutted in a six-footer for bogey.

Making the best of Mid-Pac is apparently an acquired art.

"I expect the scores to be higher tomorrow," Hayashi said. "There will be times when, even if the pin is tucked, you have to go after it because playing for the center of the green you're going to 3-putt. You can't stop the putt anyway. Greens in regulation means nothing on this kind of course."

NOTES

There are still openings for the 56th Jennie K. Wilson Women's Invitational. The first women's major of the year will be May 5 to 7 at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Entry deadline is Thursday.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.