ANDREW Martin fought back from a slow start to give himself a chance of making the cut at the Fiji International.
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Martin started the $1million event slowly, making bogey on his opening two holes.
He followed up with a double bogey seven on the par-five fifth to be four-over through five holes.
Martin responded strongly, making birdies on ninth, 10th and 12th to catapult up the leaderboard.
Three-straight bogeys from the 14th to 16th saw Martin drop back to four-over par, but a birdie on the par-five 17th lifted him to three-over for the day.
His score of 75 put him in a tie for 80th, seven shots off the lead.
The top 60 players at the end of Friday's second round make the cut.
Fellow Bendigo professional Kris Mueck looks set to miss the cut.
Mueck had a tough day at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.
Mueck finished with a 10-over par 82, but it could have been much worse.
Mueck's first seven holes included one triple bogey, one double bogey and three bogeys.
A bogey on the par-four 10th and a quadruple bogey nine on the par-five 11th saw him drop to 13-over par.
The Axedale product bounced back gallantly, playing his final seven holes in three-under par to sign for an 82.
Mueck has an afternoon tee time for round two, while Martin is out early.