Sims falls short despite strong finish
Michael Sims put together an astonishing finish to PGA Q School yesterday, collecting five birdies in his last six holes.But while it catapulted him up the leaderboard, he still fell agonisingly short of securing a full card for next season’s Web. Com Tour.As the gruelling six-round tournament at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament and PGA West Stadium courses in La Quinta, California, came to an end, the 33-year-old Bermudian found himself in 95th position at eight under par.Ten-under would have secured his spot on the second-tier circuit on which he played two years’ ago.Ultimately he was left to rue the double bogey he suffered on only his third hole yesterday, having teed off on the tenth at the Nicklaus course.After that he was near perfect, picking up a shot on the 16th before launching his late charge on the front nine.He birdied the par-five fourth, the par-four fifth, the par-five seventh, par-three eighth and capped his day off with another birdie at the par-four ninth.That gave him his best score of the tournament, a four-under 68.Now he will have to rely on exemptions and invitations to play on the Web. Com Tour in 2013 where a top ten finish one week guarantees a spot in the following week’s event.Yesterday’s performance showed again he’s capable of competing with the best.Left in his wake were a number of former PGA Tour stars, including 2005 British Open champion Todd Hamilton whose form has dipped dramatically since lifting the claret jug.Throughout the week, Sims carded only one round over par and suffered just five bogeys and two double-bogeys against an eagle and 15 birdies six of them yesterday.His 108-hole total was 424 compared to winner Dong-Hwqan Lee on 407 (minus 25).