Knoxville, TN (My Sportsbook) - Australia's David McKenzie fired his second seven-under 65 in as many rounds Friday to take the lead midway through the Knoxville Open.
McKenzie, the 2005 Gila River Golf Classic winner, stands at 14-under-par 130 for a one-stroke lead over Dustin Risdon (64) heading into the third round.
Gary Christian, Tommy Tolles and Kevin Johnson each posted scores of 65 in the second round to share third place at 12-under 132. Tjaart van der Walt (68) and Blake Adams (70) are another stroke further back at 133.
The first round was completed on Friday after a lengthy weather delay Thursday forced officials to call play because of darkness.
With the tournament back on track, McKenzie was hoping Friday the good form that has produced his back-to-back 65s would continue.
"I just hope Groundhog Day continues for the next two days," said the 41-year- old Aussie. "I've played like a dog all year, so all of a sudden to be in the lead is a nice change. I've been getting closer, but it's nothing I'd been expecting."
McKenzie collected an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys in his second round. He went three-under over his first nine holes -- the back nine at Fox Den Country Club -- then caught fire on the front side.
After making a birdie at No. 1, McKenzie chipped in for a birdie at the fourth, then holed an 89-yard shot with his pitching wedge for an eagle at the par-five fifth.
That took him to 14-under for the first time. He went on to bogey the seventh and birdie the eighth to remain there.
"You just get lucky," McKenzie said of his shots at four and five.
Risdon climbed from a tie for 12th place overnight into solo second with a spotless round that included six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 10th. He made birdie at three of the four par-threes and matched the best round of the day.
First-round leader Blake Adams dropped into a tie for sixth place despite shooting a solid two-under 70.
The cut line fell at five-under 139 with 63 players making the weekend. It was the lowest cut line in tournament history and the lowest on the Nationwide Tour this season by two strokes.
