'EWA BEACH — When "hot" replaced "howling" at nearly windless Hawai'i Prince Golf Club yesterday, the only way to separate yourself in the second round of the Hawai'i State Open was to reach red numbers.

Ten golfers are at par or better going into this morning's final round of the Open, sponsored by Prince Resorts Hawai'i and TaylorMade. They are chasing John Lynch, who shot 2-under-par 70 on consecutive days and is at 4-under 140. Lynch, the 2004 Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year, won the section's match play championship last month.

Lynch birdied the last two holes to grab today's pole position. A shot back in his rear view mirror are first-round leader Sean Maekawa (73), 2002 champion Tom Eubank (71), Hawai'i Golf Hall of Famer David Ishii (69) and state high school champion Chan Kim (70).

Maekawa, a senior at Honoka'a High who was second to Kim in the states, won the Makalei Amateur and committed to play for the University of Oregon in the past week. A double-bogey on his fifth hole cost him the lead.

Joe Phengsavath pulled within two with a 5-under 67, draining two birdie putts from outside 25 feet. Defending champion Jarett Hamamoto (72) is three back.

The final round should be a golf shootout under 'Ewa's sizzling sun. That was the only "condition" yesterday, according to Ishii, who hasn't won this since he captured his third State Open in 1985. This is only his fourth start since, with his last 20 years taken up in his climb into the upper echelon of the Japan pro tour.

"The sun was the condition," Ishii said. "It was hot. It affected your judgment."

Ishii, 51, is experiencing a senior renaissance this year. He finished 29th at the Champions Tour Turtle Bay Championship and won the Mid-Pacific Open just before being inducted into the Hall. In Thursday's Pro-Am he had seven birdies and an eagle — nearly holing out from the fairway for double-eagle on the closing hole — to shoot 65.

"I knew I blew it that day," said Ishii, who has had six birdies since. "I wasted it all."

His playing partners the first two days were 1997 State Open champion Brian Sasada and Kim, a Kaimuki High junior who crushes the golf ball and is now concentrating on the more subtle areas of his game. He couldn't have asked for a better mentor.

"It was a lot of fun to play with David," Kim said. "I learned a lot. The key thing is patience. He burned the edges on a lot of birdie putts, but he didn't try to 'run' after it. He just kept doing what he was doing. Eventually he made a couple birdie putts. Me, I'd start running after them."

In contrast, Ishii was careful not to try and keep up with Kim's drives. "I don't chase," Ishii said. "I just lag behind. I'm used to it."

Phengsavath lagged behind Friday, opening with a 75. He made up for all that and more with seven birdies. A double-bogey cost him a share of first.

"Everything just went well," said Phengsavath, who felt the toughest condition yesterday was the breeze that kicked up intermittently. "The putter was rolling real well today."

Cyd Okino, who turns 13 next month, takes a six-shot advantage into this morning's final round of the "Women's" Flight, after shooting 74—146. The oldest female player is Punahou's Katie Sisler, 17. Kailua's Leland Lindsay (69—141) is five shots ahead of Stan Souza (74) in the Senior Flight.

NOTES

By making the cut yesterday, Mauna Kea pro Kevin Hayashi clinched his fifth Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year honor.

The new Aloha Section PGA Foundation raised $30,000 at Thursday's Pro-Am. The money benefits the foundation and the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association. The team of pro Casey Nakama — the new Punahou boys coach — won the Pro-Am with a 63. Amateurs were Del-Marc Fujita, Ken Kishi, Jeri Nakama and Julia Takushi.

The Open Flight (pros and amateurs) are playing from Prince's black tees, measured at 7,157 yards on the B and C nines. Seniors are on the blue tees, some 300 yards shorter, and the women on the orange, nearly 1,000 yards shorter. The top 45 made the cut in the open flight, with the top 15 advancing in the seniors and the top four women.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.