KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii » With Rocco Mediate and Miguel Angel Jimenez in the last pairing of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, there will be some fast-talking, cigar-chomping, free-wheeling golf in Sunday’s final round.

Just who will emerge the winner is anybody’s guess with 14 golfers within five shots of the lead. The strong southernly wind that made its presence felt during Friday’s opening round left town on Saturday without so much as a goodbye, only to be replaced by its cousin from the north.

Not that any of the 40 seniors toiling away at the Hualalai golf course seemed to mind on this otherwise beautiful afternoon on the Big Island. After opening with a 69 on Friday, Jimenez followed it up with a blistering 8-under 64 to soar to the top of the leaderboard in this winners-only event at 11-under 133.

First-day leader Mediate stayed even with his fellow senior citizen with a 5-under 67.

Olin Browne (67) will begin Sunday’s final round alone in third, just two shots back at 9-under 135. Fred Couples (64), Colin Montgomerie (66) and Mark O’Meara (67) are tied for fourth, another shot back at 8-under 136.

Unlike the first day, when Mediate’s 66 was the best thing going, there were a half-dozen scores that matched it or were even lower, with Couples and Jimenez managing the shifting conditions better than anyone else.

For those following Mediate and Jimenez in the final twosome, prepare to be entertained.

"I have, I have, he’s absolutely fantastic," Mediate said when asked if he had been paired with the flamboyant Spaniard before.

"We’ll have a ball. There will be cigar smoke everywhere. It will be everywhere. There will be clouds everywhere. He’s absolutely, he’s an absolute sweetheart. Such a good guy. I’ve known him for years and years. Just one of the guys you want to be around. I’ll have to bust tomorrow because it will be hard tomorrow."

Jimenez, who a week ago tied for 20th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on the European Tour, will try to get his second victory on the Champions Tour. He will continue to play in major events on the PGA Tour to try to keep his world ranking in the top 50. He is currently 40th and is the man to beat in Sunday’s final round.

"I’m playing very well," Jimenez said. "I started with a birdie today. I gave myself chances on almost every hole on the golf course today. Every part of the game is working very good. I hit very good from the tee, good shots to the green and I’ve been very consistent with all my putts. Happy on the golf course. I enjoyed myself today."

Nobody came farther to the island chain than Jimenez. He flew from the Middle East on Sunday to Spain to Paris to Los Angeles to here by Tuesday night. He lost count how many hours he was on the plane because there’s a 12-hour time difference from here to there. No matter. When asked what the secret was to this golf course, his answer was typical Jimenez.

"The secret is like any other golf course in the world," Jimenez said. "Enjoy yourself in what you are doing. Obviously, you need to work hard, you need to make good shots. You need to make the putts. But most of all, you need to enjoy what you’re doing while you are out there. That is what I think."

This certainly won’t be a typical final round in Hawaii. With Couples closing hard with an 8-under round and defending champion Bernhard Langer moving into a tie for seventh with a 7-under 65, there are a lot of good golfers trying to get back in it.

Couples began his day in the same spot as Langer — even par. And when you do that, what happens out here, Freddie? "You get lapped." The talented American was paired with Langer on Saturday. They were even par on Friday and 15 under on Saturday.

"Friday was OK for a while and then it got very mediocre," Couples said. "We had an earlier tee time and the wind wasn’t blowing anything like it did Friday. The course gave up some good scores. I watched Bernhard make a lot of birdies. It’s a good day. I’m thrilled to be back in the thing. I have a shot at having another good round. That 72 in the opening round was pretty sour."

After his first round, Couples, who enjoys watching tennis, noted the top players often begin with easier opponents in the first round of a major like the Australian Open. They can afford to get off to a slow start and still manage to get a win without their "A" game.

"Our sport is totally different than most," Couples said. "If you have a bad nine holes and you feel like you’re playing well, on this tour you’re in big, big trouble. Today, you don’t expect to go shoot 64, but I knew I was going to play a good round. I didn’t know what that was going to be, but I at least have a shot because of this."

Mediate believes he has a shot as well and is excited to be in this position.

"I love where I’m at, absolutely love it," Mediate said. "Anytime you’re at the top that’s a good spot to be. I have to go out and play great tomorrow because a lot of guys will be coming after us. It will be a shootout. I hope it’s a fun, crazy day. I’m looking forward to that. A nice way to start the year."

SUNDAY TEE TIMES

10:10 a.m. Kohki Idoki, Ben Crenshaw

10:20 Brad Faxon, Hale Irwin

10:30 Peter Jacobsen, Curtis Strange

10:40 Jeff Sluman, Nick Price

10:50 Roger Chapman, Joe Daley

11 Loren Roberts, Jeff Maggert

11:10 John Cook, Tom Watson

11:20 Jay Haas, Russ Cochran

11:30 Michael Allen, Tom Pernice Jr.

11:40 Fred Funk, John Riegger

11:50 Corey Pavin, David Frost

Noon Scott Dunlap, Paul Goydos

12:10 p.m. Davis Love III, Craig Stadler

12:20 Wes Short, Jr., Mark Wiebe

12:30 Tom Lehman, Kenny Perry

12:40 Esteban Toledo, Kirk Triplett

12:50 Bernhard Langer, Bart Bryant

1 Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara

1:10 Olin Browne, Fred Couples

1:20 Miguel A. Jimenez, Rocco Mediate