Michael Sims had cause to celebrate late last week when he won the right to a full-time berth on the Canadian PGA Tour.

The Bermuda Open champion ? who had to place in the top 20 in the Winter Qualifying School tournament at the Los Serranos Golf Club in California to secure the coveted playing card ? finished 13th overall after firing scores of 66, 74, 72 and 69 over four pressure-filled rounds on two different courses.

The Canadian PGA tour is nowhere near as lucrative or prestigious as its American counterpart. But it has served as a useful stepping stone to the big leagues for plenty of high-profile golfing names over the years, including former Masters champion Mike Weir and last year?s US Open winner Michael Campbell.

And while an ambitious Sims is desperate to play one day on the grandest stage of all, he was upbeat yesterday about the achievement and the current state of his game.

?I?m very happy with the way things are going,? he said.

?I?ve been hitting the ball good and putting really well for several months now so hopefully I?ll keep the momentum going and meet with some success over the next few weeks and months.?

Sims was preparing yesterday to travel to West Palm Beach for a few days intensive practice. from where he will head to Austin, Texas later this week for back-to-back Canadian Tour events.

The Canadian PGA tour schedule for this year boasts 15 tournaments both north and south of the border ? with an average prize purse of between $100,000 and $200,000.

The jewel in the tour?s crown is the Bell Canadian Open in September which is also a USPGA tour event and was won last year by Mark Calcavecchia.