McKenzie gets the better of Natadola

David McKenzie had battled the winds and come out on top at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course today.

Playing the second round of the Fiji International, David McKenzie handed in a 2-under 70, just the second sub par round of the tournament, the other belonging to Victorian Kristopher Mueck who fired 1-under the card today.

“I was pretty happy with it, with a couple of holes to play I knew I still had 16 to play which is the last one into the wind,” said McKenzie.

“I thought if I could negotiate that without making a big number, I could probably shoot under par, which I did.”

There was no secret to McKenzie’s round, instead perhaps a bit of luck as he managed to record three birdies.

“I was pretty lucky in that I didn’t get any gusts that whipped my ball into trouble like I did yesterday,” said McKenzie.

“I think that is where most guys are having trouble, a wind gust will hit them, you lose your balance, hit your shot and the wind will get it and push it 30 meters into the junk.”

“I was pretty fortunate today that I was able to get between the gusts and fortunate enough that I picked the right clubs into the wind as well.”

Believing that tough conditions even out the field, McKenzie was pleased that he was able to make three birdies today and record the best round of the tournament so far.

“Traditionally I am a good player when it gets really hard. To a degree when you can’t get it onto a lot of greens in regulation, because that’s the way I play normally, so this just brings everyone back to my level. And today I had my level higher than usual,” added McKenzie.

“I hit a really great shot on the 7th, I was pretty pleased with myself. I hit an 8 iron to about 6 feet and made that.”

With the afternoon field now on course and after his second round McKenzie is currently 5-over the card and tied fourth.