A battling Michael Sims overcame a wobbly start to the second round of the $600,000 Jacob?s Creek Open in Australia yesterday to make his first Nationwide Tour cut of the season and assure himself of collecting a second straight pay cheque.

But he came nowhere close to matching his opening round of five-under-par 67 which had put him in a tie for fifth place overnight.

Sims could yesterday manage only a three-over-par 75 to reach the half-way stage of the tournament at two-under.

The 28-year-old Bermudian barely made the cut at the 6,794-yard Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide, finishing in a 14-way tie for 50th.

Starting his round on the back nine, Sims moved to seven-under after making birdies at ten and 12.

But then disaster struck as the Belmont Hills touring pro dropped five shots, bogeying three of the next six holes and chalking up a double bogey at the par-three 14th to make the turn at three-over.

Sims, however, rebounded by parring seven of the final nine holes and collecting a solitary birdie at the par-four fifth.

Despite dropping another shot on the penultimate hole, to return to three-over for the day, he then regained his composure to par the final hole and set himself up for another pay day.

Sims, who turned pro in 2002, earned a year?s exemption on the Nationwide Tour last November after qualifying at the PGA Tour Q School in La Quinta, California.

He was the recipient of an Achievement Award during Thursday night?s Annual Sports Awards ceremony, and was among the favourites to win the coveted Male Athlete of the Year Award which ultimately went to pro cyclist Tyler Butterfield.

Local favourites Craig Parry (64), a long-time PGA Tour player, and Brett Rumford (69), currently share the lead at the Jacob?s Creek Open on nine-under par.