By Colin ThompsonMichael Sims made a steady start to the final stage of PGA Q School at the Nicklaus Tournament Course in La Quinta, California yesterday.The Bermudian pro carded a one-under-par 71 to finish the opening round tied for 82nd.Sims carded two birdies, one at the par-four sixth hole and another at the last hole.His only blemish arrived at the par-three 17th where he carded a solitary bogey for the round.While Sims would not have been displeased about his opening round score, there may have been some cause for concern over his failure to birdie any of the three par-fives on offer.Having progressed through the first two stages of Q School, Sims now faces perhaps one of the biggest challenges of his career, knowing success at La Quinta could catapult him onto the lucrative PGA Tour next year.To do that he needs to finish next Monday’s final round in the top 25 of the 172 players competing in the last significant tournament of the year.Anything lower would secure a spot on the second tier Web.com Tour (formerly Nationwide Tour) as either a full member or as one with certain exemptions.The past Bermuda Open winner last played on that Tour two years’ ago.Today will see Sims tee off at the equally tough TPC Stadium Course.Florida resident Steve Lebrun fired an eight-under-par 64 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course yesterday to claim a one-shot lead over the rest of the field.