DAVID Howell missed a third cut in a row on the European Tour after failing to make the weekend’s final two rounds at the KLM Open in the Netherlands.

Swindon star Howell had given himself work to do in Spijk after a first-round 73 left him on two-over par on Thursday.

He was unable to rectify the damage during another disappointing round on Friday, with a one-over 72 dropping him outside the top 100 on the leaderboard on three-over overall, missing the cut by four shots.

Fellow Wiltshire player Jordan Smith remains in contention at the top end of the leaderboard and followed up his five-under opening round of 66 with a level-par 71 to be in a share of ninth place heading into the weekend.

However, the third county professional in action, Laurie Canter, also suffered a missed cut, with a two-over second round dropping him to three-over overall.

China's Ashun Wu currently leads the way on 12-under after a five-under second round of 66.

Broome Manor man Howell was heading the wrong way on the leaderboard after only two holes of his second round. Teeing off on the 10th, he started par-bogey.

Howell got back level for the day before the turn after a birdie at his eighth hole, before another at his 11th suggested a strong round may be on the cards.

However, that good work was undone by back-to-back bogeys on his 15th and 16th holes to ensure it was another over-par round and missed cut.