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."

For the record, the last time he won in Hawai'i, ironically, was with Hayashi in the 2002 Pro-Pro Championship. His last individual victories here came at the 1994, '95 and '96 Aloha Section PGA Stroke Plays.

Wins have been far between lately, but Ishii has many more than a few.

He started with a state high school championship (for Kaua'i High) in 1973 and an NCAA championship (with Houston) four years later. Ishii won every prominent Hawai'i event — many more than once — before taking on the Japan PGA Tour, where he has 14 victories in a career that is winding down now at age 50.

His unique place in Hawai'i golf might best be captured by his upcoming schedule. It starts with his Hall of Fame induction next Monday, followed by his presence at the David S. Ishii Foundation state high school championships, and concluding with his first trip to Scotland, for the Senior British Open. The invitation for that was written that memorable Sunday at Waialae Country Club in 1990 after Ishii became the second golfer from Hawai'i (after Ted Makalena) to win on the PGA Tour.

Clearly, Ishii still has what it takes. He went into the final round six behind Hayashi and still wondering if the putting lesson he took Tuesday in Arizona with Stan Utley — the new short-game guru on tour — was worthwhile.

Utley altered Ishii's stroke from the traditional "back and through" to an "arc" where the shoulders barely move, the ball "catapults" off the putter face and chances of a stroke "going yippy" are dramatically decreased.

"My putting was really junk. Every day I'd miss four or five putts like this," said Ishii, placing his hands three feet apart. "And if I start missing them early in the day the feeling was there ... Today, it was all putting ... it was unreal."

Particularly the two 15-foot par putts he made to fuel his charge. Ishii played both nines in 2-under, erasing his only bogey with three birdies on the back.

He dropped a seven-footer at the 14th to reach even par for the tournament and finally catch Hayashi. While Ishii stood in the 17th fairway, 156 yards out, Hayashi bogeyed the 16th to fall one back.

Ishii hit his 6-iron to 4 feet above the hole, coaxed that birdie putt in to go 2-up, then drained a 45-footer from the back fringe on 18 to end an astonishing day with his arms raised in shock.

"I was trying to make pars and the last two holes birdies just came out," said Ishii, who was even more surprised that he had chased a leader down. "I don't remember coming from behind before. I only remember being in front (when he won). It was either good day, good day, good day, or bad, bad, bad."

Hayashi has seen much more good. He picked Ishii to win before the round.

"David shot 68. That's terrific today," Hayashi said. "I didn't play well today, but that's still awfully good."

Ishii, who won $12,500, was hoping for a strong finish of "third or fourth." He was rooting for Casey Nakama, who was a shot behind Hayashi after three rounds, to continue playing well after a long dry spell. He knew Hayashi would play well, and believed Kenichiro Kato, Chad Saladin and Nick Mason all had a more legitimate shot at catching Hayashi.

But Kato took a 9 on the par-5 fifth, Mason never made a charge, Nakama played the final four holes in 3-over and Saladin three-putted Nos. 11, 12 and 13. Hayashi never sank a meaningful putt and played the par-5s in 2-over.

Seniors — and former Mid-Pac champions — Larry Stubblefield and Lance Suzuki also finished in the top 10. Stubblefield last won here in 2001, at age 50. He was inducted into the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame the following day.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.