Matthew Fitzpatrick continued his serene progress at the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play as top seed Chris Wood was knocked out in the second round.
Fitzpatrick beat Thomas Bjørn 4 and 3 in round one and continued his bogey-free run at Archerfield with five birdies and an eagle in a 6 and 5 victory over fellow Englishman Matt Ford on Friday.
There was no such performance from Wood, however, who fought back from six down at the turn but lost 2 and 1 to 32nd seed Daniel Brooks.
Both Wood and Fitzpatrick are battling to make it into Darren Clarke's Ryder Cup team - with Fitzpatrick currently holding the ninth and final spot - and that contest could go right down to the Made In Denmark later this month.
Fitzpatrick won the Nordea Masters in June but then missed three of his next four cuts before the US PGA Championship, and he feels his confidence is returning.
"You make a few putts and all of a sudden you have a good couple of results and before you know it, you're sort of back on top of the world again," he said.
"That's this game, you miss a few cuts and you can go and win. That's what happened to me. I wasn't playing great and then I won and confidence is high. Then miss a few and have a good result.
"That's just the way the game goes and I think that how you deal with it is how you get better.
It's nice to get things done and done quickly and it shows to me good things for the coming games. Hopefully I'll just keep doing the same thing - Matthew Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick will next face Alejandro Cañizares, who overcame Eduardo de la Riva 4 and 3 in an all-Spanish encounter.
Second seed Alex Noren won the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open last month and stayed on course for a double with a 4 and 3 win over Renato Paratore.
The Swede was five under for his 15 holes and will next face Nacho Elvira, who needed 20 holes to beat Craig Lee after the Scotsman fought back with birdies on the 15th and 16th.
Maximilian Kieffer chipped in for an eagle on the last to beat Mikko Ilonen two up and Chris Paisley repeated the trick to seal a one up win over Prom Meesawat.
Kieffer's next opponent will be Brooks, while Paisley will take on Johan Carlsson - a 2 and 1 winner over Robert Rock.
Local favourite Richie Ramsay was another man to eagle the last - this time with a putt - to beat Roope Kakko two up and he will face Oliver Fisher in the last 16 after he beat Simon Khan 2 and 1.
Marc Warren also delighted the home fans with a 3 and 2 win over Magnus A Carlsson and he will next take on Joburg Open champion Haydn Porteous - a 3 and 2 winner against David Horsey.
Tournament host Paul Lawrie was beaten in the last 32 for the second year in a row as he surrendered the 16th, 18th and first play-off hole in his defeat to Richard Green.
Anthony Wall is next up for Green after a 6 and 4 win over Richard Bland in which he claimed the first four holes.
Michael Hoey defeated sixth seed Matthew Southgate 2 and 1 and will next face James Morrison, a 4 and 3 victor over Graeme Storm.
