Leilehua and University of Hawaii-Hilo alum Nick Mason closed with a 1-over-par 72 yesterday at the PGA Tour’s Second Stage qualifier in Panama City, Fla. It was one too many.

Mason’s four-day score of 2-over 284 was good for 24th. The top 19 and ties — at 283 — advanced to the final stage next month.

Honolulu 19-year-old Tadd Fujikawa shot his best round of the week, a 3-under 69, in the final round of the Second Stage at Bayonet Course, in Seaside, Calif. It was not nearly enough. Fujikawa tied for 57th at 292, with 25 advancing at 282.

Former Hawaii state high school champ Chan Kim (75–294) and two-time NAIA champ Samuel Cyr (76–298), from Makawao, finished just behind Fujikawa.

Those that advanced play in the final stage, Dec. 1-6 in Florida. The low 25 and ties there are exempt on the PGA Tour next year, with everyone else earning status on the Nationwide Tour.

Poulter up by 2

Ian Poulter shot a 6-under 64 yesterday for a two-stroke lead through three rounds at the Hong Kong Open.

The Englishman followed up his second-round 60 by sinking birdies on the final two holes, pulling clear of U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell (63). Simon Dyson of England shot a 65 to trail by three strokes.

Poulter started with a birdie on the second and then eagled the 551-yard, par-5 third in his third straight round without a bogey.

McDowell shot the best round of the day. The Northern Irishman had an eagle on the 10th, driving the green on a hole that was shortened to 287 yards, then making a long putt.

That began an impressive back nine that brought birdies at 13 through 15.

Rory McIlroy (66)– runner-up in 2008 and 2009 — is four shots behind the leader, along with American Anthony Kang (67).

Mallinger holds on to lead

John Mallinger, no longer fully exempt on the PGA Tour after finishing 133rd on the money list this year, birdied the final two holes at Del Monte for a 2-under 70 to maintain a one-stroke lead yesterday in the Pebble Beach Invitational.

"Today was playing tough," Mallinger said. "I expected rain and then there was perfect weather. I struggled when the wind picked up."

Mallinger had an 11-under 205 total in the Callaway-sponsored event that features 76 male and female players. Russ Cochran, a two-time Champions Tour winner, was second after a 70 at Spyglass Hill.

"It’s always a good thing to be in the lead," said Mallinger, who will play in the PGA Tour qualifying tournament in two weeks in a bid to improve his 2011 conditional status. "Some of the pins were nasty, so I wasn’t expecting much."

Mallinger, winless on the PGA Tour, has eight top-three finishes, including two thirds at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He also tied for 22nd in the U.S. Open in June at Pebble Beach.

Morgan Pressel (71), Champions Tour player Mark Wiebe (71) and D.A. Points (72) were tied for third at 7 under. Annika Sorenstam, competing for one of the few times since her 2008 retirement, was seven strokes back after a 71 at Pebble Beach, the site of the final round.

Juli Inskter, who in 1990 became the only woman to win the event, was even par after a 75 at Spyglass.

The top 40 and ties advanced to the final round.