Paul Casey repeated his opening 69 at the BMW Championship - the third event of the FedEx Cup play-offs - and will go into the third round in a tie for fourth spot only two behind leaders Matt Kuchar and Charlie Wi.
The 33 year old, joined on four under par by fellow Englishmen Ian Poulter and Luke Donald, has not shot higher than 72 in the past month and describes himself as "in a good place right now".
Poulter would have shared the lead but for two late bogeys in his 72, while Donald - joint second in the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday - birdied the last for a 70 that maintains his bid for the £6.5million jackpot in Atlanta in two weeks' time.
Kuchar, winner of the opening play-off event, is still in the driving seat, though, after it initially looked as if illness was going to cost him dear.
The American Ryder Cup newcomer, suffering from a virus, bogeyed four of his first six holes, but played the last seven in three under to be alongside Korean Wi.
Rose, meanwhile, had a 71 for three under and joint ninth, which makes it four English players in the top ten at halfway.
