When Parker McLachlin and Anna Umemura were 11 and Punahou classmates, both came to Maui to volunteer at the Kapalua International — a trek they would make for many years while playing junior golf.

That year, McLachlin was the walking scorer for Fred Couples. During one round, he snagged one of Couples' divots and handed it to Umemura, who still has it saved in a Ziploc bag.

She would go on to become the only golfer ever to capture the triple crown of Hawai'i women's golf — Jennie K., stroke and match play championships — in the same year (1997) and play at the college level for Tennessee. McLachlin is in his third year on the PGA tour and won the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open last year, to qualify for this Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Yesterday, Umemura and her fiance took the first flight over to Kapalua and followed McLachlin in the third round. Before it started, Umemura told McLachlin that this year she would save one of his divots.

The 1996 state high school champion has rallied since playing his first four holes in 6-over Thursday. McLachlin shot 69 Friday and yesterday, hitting 28 straight greens in regulation.

He rolled in four birdie putts from inside 11 feet on the front nine yesterday, missing one from eight feet. He was even-par on the back nine, with two birdies and two bogeys, which broke a streak of 34 consecutive bogey-free holes and included his first three-putt of the week.

"I hit the ball well again and just didn't make a whole lot of putts, similar to yesterday," McLachlin said. "I have pretty good control of my game and I think I'll be breaking out with some made putts here, either tomorrow or next week. It's definitely coming."

And What's more ...

Today's final round will start 3 hours earlier than planned due to a weather forecast that calls for heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms hitting Maui in the late morning. The 33 players will be sent out in threesomes. Six groups will start on the 10th tee and the top five groups off the first tee, with the leaders going out at 9 a.m.

It is only the second time since the Mercedes moved to Maui in 1999 that tee times have been adjusted. The first time was that first year, in the second round, and eventual champion David Duval shot 63. He held a seven-shot advantage going into the final round — one more than Ogilvy, who was asked twice yesterday about how the weather would affect his chances.

"I'd prefer it to not rain, but that's a comfort-level thing, not really a golf thing ..." he grinned. "There is no choice. You'd like a medium day if you're really picky — not easy, not hard."

TV coverage on The Golf Channel will still be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., today, but now it will be a delayed broadcast.

Registration deadline for Friday's Hawai'i Golf Ho'olaule'a Awards Dinner has been extended to tomorrow. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Ballroom. Dean Wilson will be a guest speaker and among the 50 or so award winners will be Alex Ching (Outstanding Boys Golfer and Amateur of the Year), Richard Ho (Lifetime Achievement) and Scott Ashworth (Aloha Section PGA Professional of the Year).

This is the first time all Hawai'i golf organizations are hosting an awards celebration together to recognize athletes, industry leaders and volunteers. Along with Wilson, a Castle High graduate here to play in the Sony Open in Hawai'i, pro golfers Ricky Barnes and Ted Purdy will be at the dinner to present junior golf awards.

For information on all the award winners and to register, contact the Aloha Section PGA (593-2230).