DIVOTS

Support for Hayashi flies in

Kevin Hayashi's birdie putt to make the cut on Friday triggered a hectic morning for some of his students yesterday.

Heading into the week, several of Hayashi's pupils at Hilo Municipal Golf Course vowed to make the trip to Oahu if he made the cut for the first time in eight attempts at the Sony Open in Hawaii. His 67 on Friday put him just above the cutline, and his students made good.

“;We were so excited last night,”; said David Camacho, who accompanied his son, 13-year-old Matthew. “;The flight was booked this morning, so we woke up at 4:30 and got to the airport at 5 and waited standby.”;

There were able to get on the flight and caught up with Hayashi at the second hole. Although Hayashi struggled to a 75 that left him out of the Sunday field, his first weekend appearance at a PGA Tour event could still be an enduring lesson for those who made the trip.

“;Sometimes I play with them, so I said if I can do that there's no reason why they can't do it,”; said Hayashi, who was greeted by the group after the round. “;Just believe you can do it no matter what.”;

Greener pastures

Australian Nathan Green shot into contention after firing a 5-under 65 yesterday for a three-day total of 7-under 203. He moved up 25 spots from a tie for 32nd to a tie for seventh. He trails leaders Ryan Palmer and fellow Aussie Robert Allenby by four shots.

Green finished fifth as a tour rookie here in 2006 and also finished tied for 12th here last year. He's had a good track record at Waialae and could factor in today's final round if he goes low again.

Awkward tee time

When Bob Estes found out from John Daly in the opening two rounds that Ping wedges made prior to 1990 are still considered legal clubs, he didn't like it.

Estes believes they break the spirit of the rule.

Dean Wilson will have one in his bag today and doesn't believe it's a problem.

“;Ping has always supplied a new wedge for me with conforming grooves,”; Wilson said. “;The ones I've been using the last couple of years, they changed the rules, I can't use them, so I've got to find something else that conforms.”;

As fate would have it, the two are paired today.

Inside the numbers

With a pure tradewind blowing across Waialae for most of the day, the scoring average was a steady 69.425 yesterday, the best of the week. The cumulative scoring average is 70.213.

The hardest hole was the par-4 13th with a scoring average of 4.262. The easiest hole was the par-5 18th with a scoring average of 4.387.

Jason Kaneshiro and Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin