The former South African Open winner, who was joint fifth at the start of the day, had to settle for a level-par 72 and dropped back to a tie for 11th on a four-under 140.

The former South African Open winner, who was joint fifth at the start of the day, had to settle for a level-par 72 and dropped back to a tie for 11th on a four-under 140.

He heads into the weekend six behind Australia’s Brett Rumford, who jumped 18 places into a three-stroke lead with a sparkling 63 for a 134.

Fife’s Peter Whiteford posted a 69 and made the cut on 144 but Alastair Forsyth was left cursing a bogey at the last as his spirited second- round rally ended on a sour note.

The two-time tour winner from Paisley was facing an uphill struggle to make the cut after an opening 79 but hit back superbly and was six-under for his round after 17 holes. But a 5 on his last left Forsyth with a five-under 67 and he missed qualifying by a shot on 146. David Drysdale also exited on the same total after a 71.

Lee Westwood, back at No.1 in the world, shot 68, an improvement on his opening 72. He had a birdie but gave the shot back on the third hole before back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth. Further bogeys at the 13th and 16th left him in a six-way tie for 11th place.

Ireland’s Damien McGraine, overnight leader on 66, could not come close to matching it, three bogeys leaving him with a 72 and in a three-way tie for fourth with Welshman Rhys Davies and England’s James Morrison on six-under. Rumford, well off the pace with a 71 on Thursday, went round in 63, with five birdies on the front nine and a strong finish marked by two more at the 17th and 18th.

His was the best round of the day by three shots. Soren Kjeldsen managed a 66 to move into a share of second after also signing for a 71.