German Marcel Siem leads the Open de France in Paris by one shot after Friday's second round at Le Golf National, which doubled as a horror day for the Australians competing.
All of the six Aussies playing in the event failed to make the cut, with scores of 76, 76, 79 and 79 shot by Marcus Fraser, Brett Rumford, Robert Allenby and Matthew Zions respectively.
Andrew Dodt did not even finish his round, retiring after he was six-over-par through 11 holes, while Richard Green also pulled out.
Siem fired a three-under 68 for the second day running to lead Sweden's Alexander Noren by the narrowest of margins.
Siem – who finished with four birdies from his final nine holes – was pleased to have kept up his consistent form as he ended the day at six under.
"If you shoot a few under on the golf course, it doesn't matter what are the conditions, it's a good score," Siem said.
"I've shot two times three under now, so I'm very happy and I hope I keep it going like that."
Noren hit five birdies in his 67, only making a blemish on the 18th hole, while Denmark's Anders Hansen and South African George Coetzee are a further shot back in a tie for third at four under.
Englishman David Lynn, Italian Francesco Molinari and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin are in a three-way tie for fifth at three under, with Molinari playing the best round of the trio.
He hit five birdies in an eight-hole stretch from the eighth to the 16th to finish with a four-under 68.
American Brendan Steele, Portugal's Ricardo Santos, Scotsman David Drysdale, Sweden's Christian Nilsson, Irishman Shane Lowry and Englishman David Howell are in a six-way tie for eighth at two under.
Englishman Lee Westwood looked a real threat to his rivals when he chipped in at the 10th, putting him in a tie for third.
But he was forced to take three penalty drops in his next five holes – twice because he found the water and one after landing in heavy rough – and he dropped five shots in that period.
Although he hit a late birdie, a round of 73 left him seven shots off the lead and gives him little chance of contesting on Sunday.
World number 14 Martin Kaymer only just made the cut, shooting a round of 72 that saw him finish with an overall score of three over, while Fraser and Englishman Simon Dyson will not feature on the weekend due to poor performances on the opening two days.
Play was suspended for approximately 80 minutes in mid-afternoon due to storms and the threat of lightning.