Saving his best till last James Nitties rocketed up the leader board at the Web.com Tour’s Rust-Oleum Championship, a final round 66 seeing him post his first top 10 finish of the season.

Rounds of 67-70-69-66 saw the 32-year-old finish the week at 12-under-par, good enough for a T8 finish and a much needed cheque for $17,400.

Like several of the Australians playing this year’s Web.com Tour Nitties has struggled for the first half of the season with a previous best finish of T24 and four missed cuts in 10 starts.

But his golf this week suggests things might have begun to turn around, four consistent rounds a good sign after recent indifferent performances.

Nitties’ finish was an obvious highlight in a poor week for the 13 strong Australian contingent.

Only four made the cut, Rhein Gibson next best after Nitties in T50. It was a disappointing result for Gibson who opened with a 6-under 65 to be T5 after 18 holes but faded over the final three rounds, a Saturday 76 doing the bulk of the damage.

Ash Hall also struggled after a good opening round, his Thursday 66 seeing him well placed only to fall down the standings with rounds of 72-69-74.

Nick Flanagan, battling to return from thumb surgery in 2014, was the opposite after a disappointing 75 to start the week.

The former US Amateur champion righted the ship in round two with a 65, eventually finishing T61 with weekend scores of 68-74.

Missing the cut were Bronson La’Cassie, Aron Price, Bryden Macpherson, Adam Crawford, Steve Allan, Oliver Goss and Mathew Goggin.

Brett Drewitt withdrew after an opening round 74 with a neck injury while Alistair Presnell pulled out midway through the second round with a wrist injury.