Johannesburg - Titch Moore fired a second round 67 for a 12 under total and take a four stroke lead at the Polokwane Classic, Sunshine Tour event on Friday at Polokwane Golf Club.
"To shoot five under after my seven under on the first day, I'm really happy with that," said Moore after his round.
"The game's starting to come back and it would be nice to finish it off with a win here."
After having surgery to repair a tendon in 2011 then struggling to get back to top form, missing five cuts this year and wondering when he will end a win drought stretching back five years, Titch Moore needed a break.
He finally got one playing the par-four 18th.
Moore watched his wedge shot make a splash in the greenside hazard, then kick out and finish just off the green.
He was able to two-putt for par from there, and the seven-time winner on the Sunshine Tour to take the four shot cushion over Dean Burmester and Justin Harding into Saturday's final round.
It may not be the biggest title Moore has chased in his career, but it will certainly mean the world to him should he hold on for a victory.
Moore built on his first-round lead with a fast start on Friday, making three birdies and an eagle in his first seven holes.
"The conditions on the front nine were great.
"I got off to a really good start and had it going for a while."
His only bogey came on the short eighth, and he parred the next eight holes before a birdie at 17 and then his adventurous par on 18.
"I hit a couple of shots which didn't seem that bad, and I had to scramble a little bit on the back nine.
"The wind came up and it swirled quite a bit. On the last hole I had a perfect yardage for my wedge.
"I hit it as good as I could and in the air it looked golden.
"The wind seemed to just switch it a bit.
"I saw a splash and then my ball stayed out. I had a terrible lie and managed to two-putt from there.
"I'll take it and run."