Christmas arrived early for Bermuda?s Michael Sims yesterday at the PGA Tour Q School in La Quinta, California.

And the 27-year-old Belmont touring pro had good reason to be jolly last night as his final round score of one-over-par 73 earned him full exemption to next year?s lucrative Nationwide Tour.

After producing impressive rounds over the weekend to go two under for the tournament to remain in contention for a spot on the Nationwide Tour, Sims entered yesterday?s final round knowing that a steady round of golf would be enough to carry him through to the promised land.

And the Bermudian proved equal to the task by finishing the gruelling, six-day qualifying tournament at one under par in a six-way tie for 75th place.

It was the crowning moment to date in a career that continues to flourish.

?I?m very excited and really don?t know what to tell you other than I have a place to play next year ? full status on the Nationwide Tour is pretty nice,? Sims told last night.

?Obviously it would have been a perfect week had I got my PGA Tour card, but as it goes I now have full Nationwide and so that?s where I have to build from.?

Sims, who has competed on smaller tours such as the Hooters, New England and South American Tours in the past, began the day on solid ground after making par on seven of the opening nine holes.

The 2005 Bermuda Open champion birdied the par-five 15th to go three under for the tournament but bogeyed the par-four 18th to make the turn at two under.

?I actually didn?t hit the ball very good today, especially at the beginning when I thought I hit the ball very horribly,? Sims conceded. ?Then I started hitting it a little better and made a couple of birdies and a couple of bogeys.

?But overall I really didn?t do anything, it was just a solid round of golf. I didn?t shoot myself out of it or move anywhere really.

?It?s just one of those things you can?t get too excited about or too down about. When things aren?t going right you just have to keep grinding away and that?s the good thing about playing over six rounds ? you?re never out of it.?

Having made the turn without losing any ground, Sims made par on the first three holes and then went one better when he birdied the par-five fourth hole. But again the Bermudian?s hard work quickly unravelled as he bogeyed the very next hole after missing the green.

?I dropped it short in the bunker and had a bad lie with an awkward stance and didn?t get it up and down,? Sims explained.

An even worse fate awaited him on the shorter par-three eighth hole where his final round nearly fell apart after ?slicing? the ball into the water with a seven iron off the tee. Sims had to settle for a rare double bogey.

?It was just one of those things and there?s really nothing much I can say about it,? he said.

?But overall I played a consistent round of golf that I?m definitely not going to complain about. I thought I putted the ball very good today, and really should have been a couple under.?

Over the course of the six-day event, held on the Jack Nicholas and PGA West tournament courses, Sims carded 72, 75, 71, 71, 69 and 73 to finish at 431 along with five others.

?I hit the ball good in spurts and chipped and putted the ball really good all week and for the most part my patience was good out there,? he said.

?The dream is not complete yet. But this is a big step and something I?m very excited and look forward to.

?And hopefully Christmas will also come early for me again next year.?