Despite being relatively unknown to the average pundit, Kennedy entered the tournament as the highest ranked player in the field with a world billing of 228.
The 37-year-old, who won last year's Western Australia Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia, said he always liked to make time to play the New Zealand Open.
With one more event to play on the Japan Tour before the end of the year, he was spending the week in Christchurch staying with friends at the Clearwater resort.
"It's an enjoyable week. A lot of red wine and a couple of beers. It's a nice relaxed atmosphere here and the course is probably the best I've seen it. So it's great to come to Christchurch and play."
As for the golf side of things he was pleased with his effort, which included being two under after the first two holes.
"Obviously the key to the round was it wasn't so windy early. [I] got off to a great start birdied the 10th and the 11th and I think early in the day that's probably the best hole to start and I hit a couple of great shots and a couple of good putts. And then from then on just played quite steady. Had a great up and down on 17 for a par and kept the momentum going."
After having the luxury of a morning tee off time today (thurs), he will play in the afternoon tomorrow, alongside Kiwi amateur Ben Campbell and fellow Australian Peter O'Malley.
"I think if you are hitting the ball well enough the back nine's actually the nine that you can really, really go low. The front nine tends to have a lot more breeze so you play a lot more crosswind holes."