Justin Rose was today refusing to give up his Dunhill championship title without a fight in the second round in Johannesburg.
Rose began the day eight shots off the lead held by Welsh pair Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge, after struggling to a one over par 73 on the opening day.
It was comfortably the 22-year-old's worst round at Houghton, a course for which he was a collective 40 under par for the last two years - a superb stroke average of exactly 67.
There was still hope for the popular Englishman's fans however, considering his victory last year was achieved despite an opening round 71 that left him five shots off the pace - ironically also set by Dodd.
Starting at the 10th tee in one of the first groups on the course, Rose took advantage of the perfect conditions to birdie the 11th and 12th, and also birdied the 16th to be out in 33.
Even then he will have perhaps been slightly disappointed at not making a birdie on the par five 18th, and making more of the easier back nine.
However he had played the front nine in two under yesterday and was going even better this morning, birdies at the first, third and fifth taking him six under for the day, and five under for the tournament.
That still left Rose, who won four titles last season in three continents, plenty to do however with overnight leader Dredge carrying on where he left off yesterday.
Dredge, needing a good finish to try and book his place in the World Matchplay by climbing into the top 64 in the world, also started on the 10th and went out in 35, but picked up four shots in his first five after the turn.
At 12 under par he was three shots clear of Denmark's Anders Hansen who had carded two eagles and three birdies in 15 holes, with South African Richard Sterne also nine under with six to play.
Meanwhile, Ireland's James Loughnane will be packing his bags after a disastrous 79 moved him to 11 over and certain to miss the cut. Peter Lawrie finished his second round on one over while Gary Murphy is among the later starters.