Top seed Chris Wood crashed out of the Paul Lawrie Match Play on Friday, while fellow Ryder Cup hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick was also knocked out.
BMW PGA Championship winner Wood suffered a 2&1 defeat to fellow Englishman Daniel Brooks in the second round, while Sheffield native Fitzpatrick lost 4&3 to Spain's Alejandro Canizares in their last-16 clash.
Second seed Alex Noren is safely through to the final eight after seeing off Renato Paratore and Nacho Elvira on day two, but t ournament host Lawrie was eliminated by Australian Richard Green in the second round.
Wood got off to a nightmare start on Friday, finding himself six down at the turn after making bogeys at the fifth, seventh and eighth holes.
The 28-year-old launched a comeback on the back nine, winning the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th to get to within two holes with two left to play.
But when both players carded pars at the short 17th, Brooks secured his passage into the next round, where he lost 2&1 to Maximilian Kieffer in the afternoon.
Meanwhile Fitzpatrick followed up Thursday's 4&3 win over Dane Thomas Bjorn with a superb 6&5 victory over Matt Ford on Friday to set up a last-16 encounter with Canizares.
But despite notching four birdies, the Nordea Masters champion did not win a single hole against the Spaniard, who will face James Morrison on Saturday morning.
Englishman Morrison was in fine form on Friday, beating Graeme Storm 4&3 in the second round before seeing off Michael Hoey by the same scoreline.
Noren will meet Johan Carlsson on day three following his 4&3 win over Italian Paratore and 2&1 victory against Elvira.
Elsewhere, South Africa's Haydn Porteous beat home favourite Marc Warren by one hole to set up a last-eight meeting with Anthony Wall, who beat Green at the 19th to progress.
Saturday morning will also see Kieffer take on Oliver Fisher, who knocked out Richie Ramsay on Friday afternoon.
Source: PA
