Opening Round at Michelin Ixtapa Classic
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:36:58
The 34-year-old tied a Palma Real course-record with an 8-under 64, good enough to sit tied for top spot with Pablo del Olmo of Mexico. Bryan Saltus (Costa Mesa, CA) is one shot back, while Rodney Butcher is two off the pace.
Winnipeg's Rob McMillan and Eddie Maunder of Whitby, ON are the top Canadians at 4-under.
McKenzie, who played on the Buy.com Tour last season, one-putted six greens on his way to a 5-under 31 on the front nine. "Putting is what this game is all about, and I was able to make a lot today," said McKenzie. "But the way things have gone this season, it is going to take 20-under to win. I'm still going to have to shoot 12 under over the next three days, or today isn't going to matter."
After gaining a sponsor's exemption into the event, del Olmo took full advantage on his native soil, hitting 17 of 18 greens in regulation. "This course is treating me very well," admitted the Asian Tour member. "I am hitting the ball strong and straight. I feel very good right now."
Butcher, a Canadian Tour rookie, was also 5-under through 10 holes but stressed he needed to carry that over to Friday. "To be honest, it was a pretty boring round," said Butcher, who made seven bogeys and eleven pars. "I was never in a stressful situation all day, I just hit it straight and made the putts. But the competitions is so strong here, if you aren't playing well you aren't going to be around on the weekend."
The 26-year-old McMillan said the greens weren't rolling the way he thought they would but was pleased to open with the 68. "You have to be patient here, you can give yourself chances all day but still miss the putts. You have to manage through those stretches out there, because you will get them. But all in all I thought I held my own."
Opening-round action didn't wind up without an adventure. The final grouping of Trey Martin, Vincente Canelo and Jason Lopez ran into a dilemma when Martin's approach-shot on the par-5 13th hole took a tricky bounce down a small embankment. A crocodile emerged from the water, stretched out two feet away from the ball and halted play for ten minutes before crawling back into the pond.
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