Wie keeps people
guessing on pro career

SILVIS, Ill. » Michelle Wie said earlier this week she has no intention to petition the LPGA to turn professional before her 18th birthday, and that she still plans to go to college and play golf, preferably at Stanford.

Her father, B.J., though, did little to completely shut the door on a rumor that Michelle might try to go pro when she turns 16 on Oct. 11.

"It's something that's been discussed," B.J. Wie said. "It's hard to say. When she's ready, she will be professional."

Also, Michelle said she is excited about her next men's tour event, even though she doesn't know where it will be. She pointed out that she didn't make the cut in an LPGA event until her fourth try, and her next PGA tournament will be her fourth.

B.J. Wie also said that whichever tour Michelle ends up playing on "full time," he wants her to make it via qualifying school.

He said for the foreseeable future Michelle will likely make a "men's tour occasional appearance."

The flip side: If Dean Wilson -- who made the cut with a 6-under 136 -- plays up to his capabilities on both nines in today's third round, watch out.

Wilson, the Castle High graduate who still lists Kaneohe as his hometown, fired 10 birdies in the first two rounds. And all 10 are on different holes. He played the back nine first on Thursday and tore it up to the tune of 5-under 31; he was 4-under at the turn for the day yesterday when he started at No. 1.

Wilson went into today tied for 19th with eight other players. He was scheduled to tee off on hole No. 1 at 3:50 a.m. Hawaii Time with defending champion Mark Hensby and John Senden.

Up with the sun: Second-round leader J.L. Lewis isn't a big fan of early tee times, but it worked for him yesterday. He began his round at 7:30 a.m.

"I kind of overslept a little bit and I was having a little trouble there, but then I kind of got it going about No. 6 and I seemed to drive it a little better than that," said Lewis, who went into today at 13-under 129.

First-round leader Hunter Mahan and Shigeki Maruyama were two off the pace at 131.

Maruyama's 63, the best score of the second round, featured a hole-in-one on the 173-yard No. 3. He used a 7-iron. It was the second ace of the tournament, as Jay Delsing had one on Thursday on No. 7.

Kick save and a beauty: Sometimes a big gallery provides more than vocal support.

Gene Lebo, 60, of Moline, supplied a big assist to Wie on the 12th hole, where she planted a 45-foot chip from the rough for a birdie.

Wie's errant tee shot on the par-3 hit Lebo and bounced back toward the green and into the rough. If Lebo hadn't been there, the shot would've probably rolled away into double-bogey land.

"It wasn't getting past me," said the aloha-shirt wearing Lebo. "I'll do anything for Michelle."

Wie didn't know about it until the post-round news conference.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that.

"If he's reading the newspaper I want to say, 'Thank You. Sorry for your pain," Wie said with a laugh. "It turned out great.' "

Don't lose that number: Wie said Tuesday she had a "certain number" she was hoping to score that she didn't want to reveal. Everybody learned what it was yesterday when she wore a big belt buckle with "68" on it.

"I got it in France," she said. "I thought it was a really cool number."

Student driver: Wie did some driving practice -- the car kind -- this week in a courtesy automobile provided by the tournament.

"She's getting better," said B.J. Wie, who has been instructing Michelle on the finer points behind the wheel. "I'm only confident when there's not much traffic."

Out of action: Ben Crane withdrew because of a family emergency. Brian Gay (upset stomach) and John Elliott (undisclosed injury) also dropped out.

Todd Fischer signed for two incorrect scores and was disqualified.