LANIKAI — Those sweet-swinging golfers too young to drive a cart just keep coming.

Twelve-year-old Kyung Kim leads the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational — the first major of the year for Hawai'i women — going into today's final round at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Kim started this tournament in A Flight, but has shot her way into the final group this morning with rounds of 73-74.

At 3-over-par 147, she is a shot ahead of Moanalua freshman Kristina Merkle, 14, who also shot 74 yesterday. Desiree Ting (75) is five back and seventh-grader Cyd Okino, yet another 12-year-old, trails by seven after a 79.

The talent is so diverse that Bobbi Kokx, eight back after a 78, could have been Kim's teacher. Kim is a sixth-grader at Maui Waena Intermediate. Kokx, the 42-year-old former Rainbow Wahine coach, teaches third at Kihei Elementary.

Including Ting, 28, three of the top five are from Maui. And three can't drive, continuing a decade-long trend most vividly illustrated by Michelle Wie's Jennie K. victory in 2001, at age 11.

Everyone knows what happened with Big Wiesy. Kim has at least one thing in common with Wie — her last win came in December at the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions.

Kim had two birdies yesterday, knocking it in from the fringe on the first hole and nearly holing out from 115 yards on the 17th. Her only three-putt in two days came on her last hole.

She was fifth here in her first try a year ago, when Mari Chun was chased down by eighth-grader Ayaka Kaneko. Chun, now a college freshman, ultimately won a playoff.

"My first two rounds were good last year (78s)," Kim said. "The third day I blew up (86). I've just got to play my own game (tomorrow) and not worry about what other people score."

Another playoff is a distinct possibility today. Two weeks ago, David Ishii made up a six-shot deficit on the final day to win the Mid-Pacific Open. With the wind blowing, greens speeds accelerating, difficult Sunday pin placements and leaders with vast potential but little experience under this pressure, it is wide open.

Kokx has won Jennie K. twice. Ting has contended in every major and is coming off a victory in last month's Maui Invitational. Okino also has credentials after becoming the youngest Hawai'i match play champion last year.

But it is Kim and Merkle, whose father Lou is pro at Nagorski Golf Course, who have the scoring advantage at a tournament where the youngest player is 10-year-old Alexandra Kaui and the oldest is Cathy Kobayashi, 82.

Merkle birdied the first two holes yesterday and just tried to keep her focus the rest of the round. "I don't like to think ahead because sometimes it makes me mess up," she said.

Since she averaged 86 here last year, Merkle has been concentrating on her "mental game."

High school helps. "We have a lot of OIA (O'ahu Interscholastic Association) tournaments," Merkle said, "and it's really crucial that you concentrate on your game a lot because you always want to win for your school."

Ting is finding help in a more unlikely setting.

While Kim's goal today is to "shoot in the low 70s," Ting is aiming for the 60s and hitting the ball well enough to get there. She missed four birdie putts from within 10 feet yesterday and knew enough to shrug it off. That comes with working for a living.

"What I'm doing now, the business banking (at Central Pacific), all the pressure of the daily stuff at work is really helping my focus," Ting said. "It helps me with the grinding part. And it makes me more relaxed on the golf course."

NOTES

Lisa Lee had a hole-in-one at the 145-yard sixth hole, using a 3-wood.

The Hickam Invitational, scheduled for this weekend, was postponed until September because of bad weather.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.