Brian McElhinney's second round as a professional saw a five stroke improvement on his first at the European Challenge Tour's Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata, but his level par 72 was not good enough for him to survive the half-way cut.

Playing in difficult, wet conditions at the Metaponto Golf Club on Italy's south east coast, the British Amateur champion produced a creditable 72, but it was not enough to repair the damage done by his opening 77 at Riva dei Tessali on Thursday.

McElhinney was the first to admit he had learned his first, harsh lesson as a professional, but, speaking like a true veteran, preferred to focus on his next test at The European Tour's Telecom Italia Open in Milan next week.

"It was better today - the conditions were miserable but I played better so I am pleased about that," said the 23 year old from Donegal.

"I suppose that is a lesson to me about how hard the professional game is, but I always knew that you have to play well to compete, and that applies to every level of the game. You don't get away with anything in this game but I'll take a lot from this week and look to improve at the Italian Open next week.

"It's all about getting experience for me at the moment and it will be good to see what a European Tour event is like. I'm playing next week and then I have another Challenge Tour event in Milan the following week so I will have had three weeks on the road and that is all new to me as well."

McElhinney's club-mate from the North West Golf Club will head home to Donegal wondering what might have been after missing the cut by a single stroke. He'll be joined on the plane home by Justin Kehoe, who finished three over par.

Athlone's Colm Moriarty is the sole surviving Irishman in the field at two under par after a second round 70.