Michael Sims (above) crept a further three places up the Nationwide Tour money leaderboard as he collected $2,999 with a 39th place finish at the Mexico Open on Sunday.

He now stands in 67th place overall with seven more tournaments remaining on the Tour as the players jostle for position in a bid to get into the top 50, which would guarantee a spot on the circuit next year, or a place in the top 25 which would launch them onto the lucrative PGA Tour.

While pleased to have again made the cut in his latest tournament – which was put back on the calendar following the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico – Sims will be diasppointed he didn't finish even further up the leaderboard.

He eventually finished at even-par 288 with rounds of 71-74-69-74 at the monster 7,568-yard, par 71 El Bosque Golf Club in Leon, but at one point was in the top ten and at three-under.

Having fired a two-under 69 on Saturday, he continued to make progress at the start of the final round on Sunday, firing two birdies and seven pars on the opening nine holes.

However, that work was undone on the back nine as he bogeyed the par-three 12th, took double-bogey six at the par four-14th and another bogey at the par-four 16th.

Victory went to Troy Merritt wgo finished at 15-under-par 273.

This week the Bermudian heads for the $550,000 Utah Championships at the Willow Creek GC in Sandy, Utah.

Then a week later he faces a difficult decision on whether to represent Bermuda with Dwayne Pearman in the World Cup qualifiers in Guatemala or continue playing on the Nationwide Tour.