Second year Professional Ben Eccles has kept alive a perfect streak of made cuts on the 2017 European Tour as he finished top Australian at the Portugese Open at the weekend.

Eccles, who has full status on the secondary Challenge Tour in 2017, has made the most of his opportunities on the main Tour this year and while T48 was less than he would have wanted it continued positive signs for the promising Victorian.

Eccles’ year has been highlighted by a top 10 finish at the Tshwane Open where he played on invitation but he will be confident ahead of the Challenge Tour season which begins in earnest this week.

The Portugese Open was co-sanctioned between both the main Tour and Challenge Tour so Eccles’ earnings will count towards achieving the secondary Tour Order of Merit where the top 15 at season’s end will automatically graduate to the main Tour.

Six Australians began the week at the Morgado Golf and Country Club, Eccles one of three to qualify for the weekend.

Daniel Fox (T64) and Nick Cullen (T68) also played the final two rounds while Richard Green, Ryan McCarthy and Scott Arnold all missed the cut.