Sims moves up with super finish
An electric finish propelled Michael Sims some 50 places up the leaderboard on the second day of the final stage of PGA Q School in La Quinta, California yesterday.After starting at the 10th hole, the 33-year-old Bermudian proceeded to par every one of his first 13 holes before suddenly bursting into life on the par-72 PGA West Stadium Course as he approached the finish line.He birdied the par-five fifth, added another at the par-four seventh and picked up a shot at the par-five eighth to post a three-under 69 two shots better than his first round in which he closed with a one-under 71 at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.A field of 172 players are competing over six days in both courses.Sims now sits in a tie for 59th place on four-under 140, ahead of many pros who have previously played on the PGA Tour.He started the day tied for 82nd and dropped to 102nd before launching his sizzling finish.But with 72 holes still remaining, he’ll be aware there’s still much to do.At the end of Monday’s final round 25 players will have booked a spot on the world’s most prestigious Tour, the PGA somewhere no Bermudian has ever ventured.The next 50 on the final leaderboard will cement a place on the Web.Com Tour.All others will be given partial exemptions to play on the Web.Com.Sims last played on that tour, when it was known as the Nationwide, two years ago and he’ll relish another chance.But he’ll also have an eye on the bigger prize with just three shots currently separating him from those in the leading 25.Today he returns to the Nicklaus Tournament lay-out, hoping to better his first round there on Wednesday when he posted two birdies and one bogey but failed to take advantage of the three par-fives where he could only make par.At the end of yesterday’s round Meen Whee Kim led the field on minus 13, after carding a nine-under-par 63 on the Stadium Course.