Michael Sims shot a course record 65 this week to qualify for his first Nationwide Tour event in four years ? but the Bermuda Open champion couldn?t re-produce that dazzling form in the tournament proper and missed the cut in Ohio yesterday.

Competing for only 14 qualifying berths at the Legend Financial Group Classic at the Stonewater Golf Club in Highland Heights, Sims produced his very best golf at the nearby Avon Oaks Country Club to finish joint-top qualifier, seeing off the challenge of 150 other players to book his place in the $500,000 event.

But after carding a four-over 75 on Thursday on the 7,045-yard course, Sims could only produce a second round 71 to finish tied for 101st ? some four shots off the cut.

Having played for most of the season on the lower-profile and far less lucrative Canadian Tour, in itself Sims? qualification for a Nationwide Tour event ? which is only one rung below the PGA ? could be seen as an impressive achievement.

Nevertheless, Sims admitted this week that he has become increasingly frustrated by the inconsistent nature of his performances in the last few months, where he has rarely strung more than two good rounds together.

Just last week at the $100,000 Fallsview Casino Resort Pro-Am Classic in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Island?s best golfer found himself sitting in joint sixth after two rounds, only to card an extremely disappointing 84 in round three to fall out of contention and ultimately finish last.

Sims? stand-out performance of the season came at the TELUS Edmonton Open in July where he finished tied for fourth with rounds of 66, 69, 74 and 65 ? picking up a cheque for $5,887.

?It?s been a little frustrating for sure ? but I?m doing all I can to get myself out of this funk,? said Sims, ranked 65th in the Canadian Tour Order of Merit ? enough to keep his card for next season.

?I feel like I?m hitting the ball really well, and some days I go out there and shoot a low number and others I just play terribly. I guess you could probably say that its a combination of some minor swing faults and my mental approach, but I?m hoping that as I keep playing and gain more experience I?ll be able to overcome all of this.?

For the next few weeks, Sims will be in New England playing in the New England Open and a couple of New England Pro Tour events ? one of a collection of mini-tours on the American golfing circuit ? before he begins preparations for another shot at PGA and Nationwide Q School in November.

?Obviously Q School is in the back of my mind but I think it?s important to treat it as just another tournament, because as soon as you start getting too worked up about it, that?s when things can start to go wrong,? insisted Sims.