Max McCardle has maintained his place in the all important top-five on the PGA TOUR China Order of Merit despite missing the cut at this week’s New Town King Run Open.

It was just the second weekend off for the South Australian in eight starts in 2016, opening rounds of 74-72 leaving him one shot outside the cut line.

However, in what has been an impressive year to date McCardle had built up enough of a cushion on the Order of Merit to survive the stumble.

He will now be looking to finish the rest of the season strong to maintain his place in the top-5 and earn access to the secondary Web.com Tour in the US.

It was another South Australian, David Lutterus, who took top Australian honours this week finishing T9 at 11-under for the 72 holes.

Lutterus was the only Australian inside the top-10, Mitch Davis, Andrew Evans and amateur Kevin Yuan next best at T22.

Former New Zealand Open winner Jake Higginbottom was among the 12 Australians to qualify for the weekend, the Newcastle native breaking a worrying streak of six straight missed cuts.