Rock makes headway in Dunhill Championship

Robert Rock made a flying start to his final round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship to close to within four shots of leader Anthony Michael in Malelane.

The Englishman, who has finished fourth and second in the same co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event over the last two seasons, started out with a par on the first followed by back-to-back birdies that saw him move to two under after three holes.

It left him on six under overall and he will be hoping to make up a poor round of 75 on day three.

Also making headway amongst the leaders at the Leopard Creek Country Club were South African Jbe’ Kruger and Thorbjorn Olesen from Denmark – the pair on one under through two and four holes respectively.

Another local favourite James Kingston, a two-time winner on the tour, had progressed to four under after 12 holes, but his charge was coming two late as he sat on three under in total.

The lowest clubhouse scores of the day belonged to Swede Rikard Karlberg and Doug McGuigan with both closing the competition in 69.

Everyone will be aiming to catch rookie South African Michael, though, a player who only turned professional a year ago.

The 25-year-old baseball fanatic produced excellent rounds of 66 and 69 on the first two days, but seemed to be feeling the pressure a lot more during his 71 yesterday.

Defending champions Pablo Martin is one shot off the lead, while world number Charl Schwartzel, the highest-ranked player in the field, is a stroke further back.