Michael Sims triumphed in a sudden-death thriller to make the quarter-finals of the US Amateur Golf Championships yesterday.

Having already played 18 holes in the morning and emerged victorious over Australia's Simon Nash one-up - the Bermudian was one down with three to play - Sims was thrust straight into the third round of match play against American John Carlson at the East Lakes Country Club, near Atlanta, Georgia.

The 22-year-old, bidding to become the first foreign-born player to win the title since 1971, took a one-up lead on the eighth hole and retained his advantage until the 18th, the players halving the nine holes inbetween.

But just as it looked as though Sims had booked his place in the final eight he dropped a shot on the par three 235 yard last. Carlson, a senior at the University of Wisconsin, sunk his par putt and levelled the score to take the match into a play-off that would need four holes to separate them.

Both players parred the first two and both answered the challenge on the par four third, sinking birdies to keep them neck and neck.

It began to appear as though it might take another round to find a victor but the fourth extra hole was to prove decisive.

The 440-yard par four got the better of the 22-year-old from Bagley, Minnesota, who bogeyed the hole and gave Sims the match in the process.

Recalling the 18th hole that began the drama, Sims said from his hotel room matter of factly: "I didn't hit a very good shot and left myself with a pretty tough pitch. I pitched onto the green and he putted to about a foot. Then I missed my putt from about 17 or 18ft."

Lesser players may well have crumbled at that point, having seemingly snatched possible defeat from the jaws of victory - but not the ice-cool Bermudian.

"I felt like I should go play a few more holes I guess," said Sims when asked what ran through his mind. "I shouldn't get down on myself just because I lost a hole. That's golf. You are going to win some holes and you are going to lose some holes. Just keep your head up, go along with it and keep on trucking."

The hole that kept his dream alive featured one of the best shots of his week so far.

"He hit his tee-shot into the left rough and I hit a really, really good drive on that hole -probably the best drive I have hit all week." Sims said. "That left me with 106 yards into the green and I hit a sand wedge into about seven feet. He hit his shot over the green onto the back fringe and then I just missed on the low side of my putt and he failed to make his par putt."

Despite the undoubted tension and the relief of having won, Sims stayed true to the traditions of the sport and didn't milk his victory.

"It's a game where everybody shows a lot of respect," he said. "I'm not jumping up and down on the greens. After winning you walk over, you say 'well done, good match' and you go about your business."

Sims, surely set to become part of Bermudian golf folklore, has been playing down his achievements throughout the week. A six under par 66 in the earlier rounds was described as a 'struggle' and during Tuesday's first round of match play he said he needed to improve.

But after yesterday's heroics he allowed himself some faint praise.

"I think it's close to being good. It's very close I think. In the play-off I was rolling the ball really good and I hit it really good as well," he said.

Sims will square off against 20-year-old American Bubba Dickerson at 9.45 a.m. (EST) today for a place in the semi-finals.

But not being one to take too much notice of his opponents, he admits he knows only two things about him.

"I know he's got red hair and played for Florida," he said.

Meanwhile, defending champion Jeff Quinney remained on course for a repeat win as he too came through two rounds of match play unscathed.

The 23-year-old Quinney advanced with one-up wins over DJ Trahan and local favourite Kris Mikkelson.

Quinney advanced to face Arizona State team-mate Brian Nosler. The youngest player remaining in the field is 17-year-old high-school student Daniel Summerhays of Farmington, Utah.