LANIKAI — There's no catching Tadd Fujikawa in the Mid-Pacific Open, says David Ishii, who's his closest competitor.

No, not only because Fujikawa holds a commanding seven-stroke lead going into today's final round. The 18-year-old is also chasing tournament history and that's motivation enough for the teenage professional not to look back at any of his challengers.

Already the youngest champion in Mid-Pac Open's 51-year history with his victory last year, Fujikawa now has his sights on the tournament record of 17-under-par 271. He's poised to give it a shot after shooting a 69 yesterday for a 54-hole total of 12-under 204.

"The magic number is 67," an observer told Fujikawa when he finished his round.

"No, 66," he replied, knowing that a 67 would only tie the record held by Ishii, who set it in 1986, five years before Fujikawa was born.

Interestingly, Ishii will be playing in the final group with Fujikawa, so he'll be up close and personal to see if the Moanalua High School senior can break his record today. Ishii shot a 68 for a 211 total and second place, while T.J. Kua and Christian Akau are tied for third at 213 in a battle for low-amateur honors.

"Tadd can break the record easy, if there's no wind," Ishii said. "All he has to do is birdie the par-5s and there are a lot of short par-4s." Ishii birdied three of the par-5s yesterday.

Unlike Friday's round when he shot a bogey-free 66, Fujikawa bogeyed the 14th and first hole as the leaders started on the back nine. He made the turn in 34 after chipping in from the front of the green at 18. He nearly matched that 34 on the front side with back-to-back birdies, sinking a 35-footer at the par-3 sixth and lipping out a 10-footer for birdie on his final hole, the 378-yard, par-4 ninth.

"I thought I played pretty solid today," Fujikawa said. "I didn't strike the ball as well as I did yesterday and nothing was going in even though I hit a lot of good putts. So it was kind of an up-and-down day, wasn't too great and wasn't too bad."

Fujikawa said he had 30 putts each day, "So nothing is really going in for me right now. But, hopefully, tomorrow I can make a few more."

He knows he needs a better putting round to post that 66. The ideal conditions throughout the week will be offset by the traditional Sunday pin placements that will make it more difficult to shoot a low round. But it'll also mean it'll be difficult for his nearest challengers.

"I know what the record is and I know what I need to do," Fujikawa said. "It's nice to have, but I don't think too much about it. I just want to do the best that I can and play my own game and not worry too much about it."

As for his huge lead, Fujikawa said it won't change his thinking or his game plan.

"You may hit a little more to the safe side, lay up instead of going for the green, but you just go out there the same way and do whatever works the best for you."

That in mind, there's another tournament record out there: Regan Lee is the only three-peat champion (2002 to 2004).

Fujikawa has mixed feelings about it if he wins today. He plans on trying for the PGA Tour's Q-School later this year and might not be around next year if he qualifies.

"You never know," said Fujikawa, adding he might still try for a three-peat even if he makes it on the PGA Tour. "I may play (Mid-Pac Open) for many years."