New Zealand’s Ryan Fox continues to build momentum in his first full European Tour season claiming top Australasian honours at the BMW International Open.

Following a run of outs in April and May, the big hitting Kiwi has steadied with three straight top-30 finishes adding a T26 this week to his resume.

For the first time since February Fox recorded two rounds in the 60’s in an event where he made the cut (back to back 69’s weren’t enough to qualify for the weekend at the Rocco Forte Verdura Open in Sicily) and, but for one bad hole, could have finished higher up the standings.

Fox will be encouraged by his 17 birdies for the week though an eight at the par-5 ninth on day two was a low light.

Fox’s 7-under total was two better than Brett Rumford whose rounds of 68-73-67-75 saw him finish T34.

The West Australian had less than his best putting week in Munich finishing 72^nd in the field on the greens but he will take some confidence from matching Fox’s 17 birdies over the four days.

Wade Ormsby finished one shot behind Rumford in what was a disappointing finish after a scintillating opening round saw him take the tournament lead.

Still smarting from missing the cut in his first major at Erin Hills the week before, Ormsby came out firing on Thursday with a blemish free 64 to lead by one over Belgium’s Thomas Detry.

It was Ormsby’s best score since a 7-under 64 at the Africa Open in February 2014 and while he lost ground over the final three rounds it will be a source of confidence in the weeks ahead.

Richard Green was the last of the Australians to make the 36-hole cut and finished T75 while Jason Scrivener fell victim to the first 54-hole cut in European Tour history.

Sam Brazel and Marcus Fraser also missed the weekend after struggling in the opening two rounds.