Thomas Pieters fell agonisingly short of a remarkable fightback at the Belgian Knockout, before five players crashed out in a thrilling play-off on Friday.
With the field split into two sections, 32 players advanced from each half and play-offs were required to separate those tied on the cut line.
Pieters, who slumped to a dismal on six over on Thursday, almost forced his way into the picture, but a round of 65 was not quite enough to bring him to the Section A benchmark of one under.
The tournament host was three under at the turn, yet two bogeys through the next four holes – sandwiching two birdies – put paid to his hopes despite a late rally.
Pieters was at least spared the disappointment of a last-gasp play-off defeat, with Max Orrin’s departure from Section B particularly gutting.
The Englishman went five under for the day with a bogey-free round, only to send his tee shot left in the play-off to drop a shot for the first time all day.
Lasse Jensen went out in similar fashion, while Adam Bland, James Morrison and Tom Lewis were also eliminated.
A valiant 65, but in the end the task was too great.
Tournament host @Thomas_Pieters can hold his head high. pic.twitter.com/m3IiPVBg2w
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 31, 2019
However, Nino Bertasio, Sam Horsfield and Daniel Gavins all made their pars to progress, while Steven Brown and Soren Kjeldsen also made it through.
Chris Paisley, carding a second 65 in succession, to sit as the top seed, though all remaining players in contention will have a clean slate over six rounds of nine-hole stroke play.
