Simon Dyson's attempt to grab a Ryder Cup place saw him charge into the early first round lead but two late bogeys left him two behind Richard Finch in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
A four under par 68 left the 32 year old in joint fourth place, two behind fellow Englishman Richard Finch.
While they were happy with their morning's work, however, compatriot Ross McGowan's dream of a debut appeared to have been dashed by a return of shoulder trouble.
Needing a top-two finish just to have a chance, McGowan shot a five over par 77.
Earlier this year he suffered knee and then wrist problems, but it is the trapped nerve which has now derailed his bid in the final month of the 12-month race.
The 28 year old, excused the eve-of-tournament pro-am on medical grounds, managed only four pitch shots on the practice range on Wednesday before calling a halt.
Despite painkillers and strapping he dropped shots on the tenth, 13th, 15th and long 16th, where he was in a greenside bunker for two, left it in and then missed from seven feet.
Even when he struck his tee shot to 15 feet on the 194 yard next he squatted down in clear pain and then got up feeling his shoulder and chest.
"I pretty much wouldn't be here but for The Ryder Cup," he said. "I'll have some more treatment and see how it is tomorrow, but I think from now on I'll be concentrating on The Race to Dubai."
Playing partner Miguel Angel Jiménez had every sympathy, but the injury was good news for the 46 year old, currently in the hot seat of ninth on the points table.
Pushed down into the last automatic qualifying spot by Peter Hanson's Czech Open win on Sunday, Jiménez made a late decision to play rather than take the week off and had a two under 70.
Should Dyson win on Sunday, however, Jiménez would have to finish in the top nine to keep him at bay.
Alvaro Quiros, the other Spaniard still in the race, needs a win like Dyson, but he mixed five birdies with five bogeys in a 72 that included a lost ball on the long 16th.
Hanson, not safe yet at eighth in the standings, was on the same mark with five to play, but birdied three of them for a 69 that strengthens his position.
Former Irish Open champion Finch - he famously fell in a river on the final hole of that event - led by a shot from two more English players, David Lynn and Robert Rock.
"The scorecard doesn't really tell the whole story I suppose, but to go bogey free was quite remarkable probably," said Finch.
"I took the slightly scenic route at times, and I'm delighted with the result. Six under par anywhere is a great score, and on the first day, so that was good. But it was just from the word go, I think I was one under par after five holes, and I one putted every hole to get to that point and thought I was going to be in for a long, difficult day, which I managed to just make the best of it and score well.
"I feel as though the last few months I've been playing better than my scores have been showing, and today it seemed to make up for that."
Rock and Lynn were joined on five under by compatriots Gary Boyd and Richard Bland and in-form Scot Stephen Gallacher in the afternoon session.
Meanwhile no fewer than 11 players, including Dyson and Ryder Cup Vice Captain Paul McGinley were level on four under as play drew to a close.
Francesco Molinari was also on four under, and the Italian was guaranteed a Ryder Cup debut when McGowan’s injury forced him out of the remainder of the tournament.
“Obviously still struggling with the same injury, struggled all the way around, and probably not a wise move to carry on,” said McGowan.
“Unfortunately it's obviously the last event of The Ryder Cup qualification, and won't be able to make the team now, but I've got a few years left in me, so hopefully I'll make the team in a couple years time.”
