KAPALUA, Maui — David Ishii, the 1990 Hawaiian Open champion, decided not to play in Monday's final qualifier for the Sony Open in Hawai'i. Ishii will be missing at Waialae Country Club for only the second time in 20 years.

Dean Wilson, who became the only Hawai'i golfer to win a tour event on the Mainland when he captured The International last year, is profoundly disappointed.

"I really think David is a big part of this tournament," said Wilson, a Castle High graduate from Kane'ohe. "Only two guys from Hawai'i have ever won it and that's David and Ted Makalena. While he's still competitive, I think David should always have a place. There should always be a way where he can be in the tournament. He is Hawai'i in this tournament."

Ishii, inducted into the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame last year and one of the Japan PGA tour's career money leaders, lost a three-way playoff in the Aloha Section PGA member qualifying last month. David Chin and Abe Mariano earned the two slots, with section Player of the Year Kevin Hayashi getting the section's third slot. Moanalua sophomore Tadd Fujikawa earned the amateur spot.

Other exemptions went to Punahou senior Michelle Wie, Punahou graduate Parker McLachlin, John Daly, Yusaku Miyazato, Juvic Pagunsan, Dicky Pride, Chris Smith, Hideto Tanihara, Azuma Yano and Kaname Yokoo.

The field of 144 will be complete when the four qualifying spots are filled Monday at Makaha Resort. As of yesterday, 81 golfers had registered (deadline is noon today). There are 20 PGA Tour players, 11 Nationwide players, 23 from the Mainland, seven from Japan, Korea and Canada, and 20 from Hawai'i.

The Sony Open commitment sheet was finalized yesterday. Of the 34 players in this week's field on Maui, all but Kirk Triplett and Adam Scott will play. Scott initially planned to play but changed his mind. Triplett has only played at Waialae twice — in 1990 and 2005 — and missed the cut both times.

WILSON FALTERS IN WIND

Dean Wilson cut six putts off his total yesterday, but still struggled at the Plantation, firing a second-round 78. He is scheduled to tee off at 10:50 a.m. today, just after Ben Curtis (78—159).

Wilson, who had never played at Kapalua until this week, said he has never seen so much wind at a tournament. Like everyone else, he is struggling with the conditions and control of his ball flight — and hoping next week's Sony Open won't be so extreme.

Golf Channel's short features on "Dean Wilson's Hawai'i" are airing on its Sprint Post Game Shows this week and next. The series is part of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau's marketing partnership with the channel.

HVCB initiated a partnership with Wilson to feature him at "home" (he now lives in Las Vegas) doing things he enjoys and taking viewers on a tour of the Islands. There are eight features from O'ahu and the Big Island, ranging from golf outings to learning to surf with Kelly Slater, making poke with Sam Choy and visiting Pali and Ala Wai municipal courses.

Wilson will sign autographs Wednesday during the Sony Open Pro-Am, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Toyota Hawai'i booth at Waialae.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.