Nick Cullen has fired three sub par rounds at the Challenge Tour’s rain shortened Montecchia Open in Italy to take top Australian honours on Europe’s secondary Tour.

Heavy rains forced Thursday’s play to be abandoned, Cullen opening with back-to-back rounds of 67 to be inside the top-20 with one round to go. 

While disappointed with a final round 71 and an eventual T33 finish, Cullen will take the positives from a three week stretch which saw him make two cuts and produce some consistent golf.

With no full time international tour to play on, every opportunity is important for Cullen and his play in recent weeks has ben encouraging.

David Bransdon was the only other Australian to make the cut in Italy, the Queensland Open champion finishing even par for the week and T70.

Daniel Gaunt and Scott Arnold both missed the cut which came at 3-under after 36 holes.