DAVID Howell put together a fine three-under second round of 69 at the European Tour’s Made in Denmark tournament yesterday, although it was still not enough to see him make the cut.

The damage was done in Thursday’s first round in Aarhus, with the Swindon star posting a four-over 76.

Although Howell was able climb the leaderboard back to one-over with a battling effort on Friday, he remained just outside the top 100 and headed home before the weekend’s final two rounds.

There was better news for fellow Wiltshire player Jordan Smith as a second successive two-under round of 70 saw him safely make the cut on four-under in a tie for 37th place.

However, the third county pro in action in Denmark, Laurie Canter, missed out by a single stroke on one-under after failing to improve his overall score on Friday with a level-par round of 72.

South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout leads the way at the halfway stage after a seven-under second round of 65 lifted him to 13-under overall.

Knowing he needed a fast start at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club on Friday, Howell had to make do with a steady opening as he began with four straight pars.

However, when the Broome Manor man did make a move, it was in the wrong direction following a bogey at the fifth hole.

The 43-year-old swiftly claimed that back with a birdie at the next, and another at the eighth hole meant he reached the turn one-under for the day.

The momentum continued with a third birdie at the 11th hole, although that then stalled with a run of six pars in succession.

Howell was able to finish his round with another birdie at the 18th to get to three-under for the day and one-over overall, but it was not enough to keep him around for the weekend’s action.