Bermuda golf pro Michael Sims continued to make an impact on the Nationwide Tour yesterday, carding a three-under par 69 in the opening round of the BMW Charity Pro-Am at Greer in South Carolina.

Currently sitting in 31st place on the Tour's money-list with $35,540, earned in the first four events he's played in this year, Sims is now poised to add to that total with another sub-par round in the second round today almost guaranteeing that he'll make his fifth consecutive cut.

While yesterday's impressive performance left the 30-year-old in a 23-way tie for 43rd, it could have been much better after a storming start on the 6,877-yard, par-72 Carolina Country Club course.

Starting on the back nine, Sims birdied his first hole (the 10th), eagled the par-five 13th and birdied the par-five 18th to make the turn at four-under at which point he was fifth on the leaderboard.

However, two dropped shots on his back nine, at the par-three third and par-five sixth coupled with another birdie at the par-five fourth left him at three-under for the day.

Paired with amateur players during the tournament, the pros will play three courses throughout the 72-hole event. Having conquered the Carolina course, Sims now faces the 6,707-yard, par-71 Thornblade Club lay-out as well as the monster 7,435-yard par-72 Bright's Creek GC.

Featured on the Golf Channel today, tomorrow and Sunday, the event is offering $700,000 in prizemoney with $126,000 going to the winner.

After yesterday's opening round Chris Anderson, who toured the Carolina course in a sizzling nine-under 63, was tied with fellow American Michael Clark who posted a nine-under 62 at Thornblade.

The Tour has taken a break over the past two weeks and next week's scheduled event, the Mexico Open, has been postponed because of the swine flu outbreak.

n Meanwhile, a Bermuda ladies' golf team have made a superb start to the annual Kitty Michael tournament being played at the Doral Resort and Spa course in Florida.

After the first round, the Island team lead the gross division by seven shots with a three-player total of 251. Ann Symonds led the way with 82, Kathy Lloyd-Hines fired 83 and Katyna Rabain 86. Southeast Florida are in second place on 258 with Jamaica third on 266.

In the net division, Bermuda are in second place with a total of 218, eight shots behind leaders Lyford Cay (210).

Symonds posted net 72, Synda Perry 72 and Gursharn Harvey 74.

The tournament, in which Bermuda has participated since the inaugural competition 31 years ago, has attracted 10 teams this year – Bermuda, Baltusrol, Guadaloupe, Jamaica, Lyford Cay, Ocean Reef, Puerto Rico, Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida and Summerlea.