Ben Eccles started hot at the Challenge Tour’s Hauts de France Golf Open to be the lone Australian to make the cut.

But despite a disappointing weekend at the Aa St Omer Golf Club which saw him slip down the leaderboard  he will take plenty of positives from his performance.

A first round of 2-under 69 had Eccles inside the top 10 and he remained in good position after a second round 71 before being derailed by an uncharacteristic third round 76.

The likeable Victorian stumbled with seven bogeys on Saturday to slip down the leader board and did little to help his cause with a final round of 2-over 73 to finish T47.

But while disappointed with his weekend play Eccles is making good progress in his first full year on the secondary European Tour.

He has missed just two cuts in seven starts and posted some good numbers since the season began in April though is yet to put together four consistent rounds.

Statistically it is Eccles’ iron play which needs most improvement, the 22-year-old ranked 122^nd on Tour for greens in regulation.

Despite that lowly number, however, he ranks 31^st in scoring average and if he can begin to find more greens will start to see some improved results.

Eccles was one of four Australians to tee up in France with Jordan Zunic, Daniel Gaunt and Daniel Fox all missing the cut.

Zunic is the leading Australian on the season long Road to Oman at 44^th, Eccles 10 places lower and Nick Cullen in 64^th.

Ryan McCarthy is 99^th while Daniel Gaunt and Daniel Fox are outside the top 100. The top 15 at the end of the season earn promotion to the main European Tour.