A costly shank on the penultimate hole led to the ouster of Bermuda's Mike Sims during the quarter-finals of the US Amateur Golf Championship yesterday at East Lakes Country Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sims lost by a single hole to United States' Bubba Dickerson, yet there was little shame in the local golfer's defeat, as he demonstrated supreme quality in a game - and tournament - that can be very unforgiving.

"It was fun while it lasted," said Sims from his hotel room at the Sheraton Suite. "I played well today, really well, and it was probably the best I had hit the ball all week. I just didn't make the putts.

"He made a lot, and I didn't make any."

Sims never led the match, falling behind a hole after the third, managing par compared to Dickerson's birdie. However the Bermudian recouped matters at the par-four fourth, notching a birdie of his own to a par by his opponent.

The next two were halved, before a Sims bogey at the seventh put him back again, with Dickerson holding onto the advantage through 16, when Sims again drew level with a par, against a Dickerson bogey.

However, a wayward drive from the tee at 17, which found the reaches of a lake, resulted in the American once again being able to seize the advantage, and this time Sims could not find the magic touch to recover.

Sims said that he never gave up hope after finding the water, firmly believing he could send the affair into extra holes, but it was just not meant to be.

"Anything could still have happened," said Sims. "I wasn't down on myself because we still had a hole to go.

"It's not like stroke play, where that one shot cost me three strokes, it was just one hole and four strokes, and 18 is a long par three." In reflection on the week, where he battled against the odds just to make it through to the match play round, with an original field of more than 300 battling for 64 spots, Sims was deservedly pleased, although not fully content.

"I'm very pleased with my play," said the 22-year-old. "This is a great tournament, and it's great to be here.

"It's the biggest event of the year and to make it to match play and then go as far as I did is fantastic.

"Of course I would have liked to have gone on and won it, but I'm grateful.

"I'm excited about where my game is. There's a few things that I need to touch up on, but overall I'm pleased."

Indeed, the events of the past few months would rank as perhaps the greatest ever run by a local amateur, with Sims having won the North/South Amateur at Pinehurst, and following with victory at the Players' Amateur at Belfair, where he recorded a remarkable round of 63.

The question now is, 'Will Sims turn pro?'.

"I don't know about that," said Sims, "I'll have to talk to my professional and then with my dad before I make any decision on that."

Sims may possibly go on to compete in a few tournaments in New England, or take a well earned break, but he promised to return home for the Bermuda Open in October, "whether as an amateur or pro".