Purcell sees good things ahead after solid rounds in Antwerp

Conor Purcell is patiently waiting to see his hard work turn into results after cruising into the weekend in the Soudal Open in Belgium.

While he had back-to-back top-20 finishes in China in April, the Portmarnock rookie (27) has missed seven of 11 cuts and needs to see more positive results.

He took a big step in that direction at tree-lined Rinkven International in Antwerp, adding a 69 to his first-round 70 to share 21st on three-under at the halfway mark.

"My game actually feels a lot better than the results, and I think it's just about staying patient, knowing it's a long year and results will come if you just keep putting in the work," said Purcell, who was eight shots behind Scotland's Ewen Ferguson.

"I feel like I'm starting to score relatively close to how I'm playing, and hopefully I can just push on.

"If I didn't have those two top 20s in China, I definitely would be more frustrated than I am. Knowing that the results are there, I know that the work I'm doing is good."

Ferguson shot a course record-equalling 64 to lead by three shots from England's Marco Penge, who shot 68, on 11-under.

On the Ladies European Tour, rookies Anna Foster and Annabel Wilson made the final day at the Jabra Ladies Open at Evian Resort.

Foster was 26th on level par after a two-over 73, seven shots behind Swiss Chiara Tamburlini with Wilson 55th on four-over after a 76.

Meanwhile, Meath's Daniel Mulligan (20) birdied four of his last eight holes and shot a three-under 69 to share 15th with Galway's Liam Nolan in the Danish Golf Challenge at Bogense.

Nolan shot 70 to leave them eight shots behind Scotland's Calum Fyfe on five under as the rest of the Irish missed the level par cut.

In the Senior PGA at Congressional, Darren Clarke's two-under 70 left him just three shots behind early leader Cameron Percy on three-under.