Michael Sims goes into his second Canadian Tour event today desperate to improve on last week?s performance.

The $100,000 Yes! Golf Barton Creek Challenge gets underway at the Fazio Foothills Course near Austin Texas, one of two courses used last week in the tour opener for the season where Sims missed the cut by three strokes, finishing three-over for his two rounds.

Sims has had five days of practice at the award-winning four-course resort and feels he is better equipped going into this week?s event.

?What can I say, I missed the cut, it was a bad tournament for me,? said Sims, who earned his card to the stepping-stone Tour courtesy of a 13th place finish in the Winter Qualifying School.

?I wasn?t hitting the ball well. I was just nicking it around and things didn?t come together for me ? it is one of those things.

?Practice has been going well and I am getting back into it nicely. I?m hitting the ball better and will want to be doing much better this next few days.?

Last week?s event, which doubled as a pro-am, was a busy affair with Sims? opening round taking more than seven hours due to having to play in a foursome and because of congestion over the two courses.

Today, he tees it up with Australian Lucas Bates and American Scott McNeil 10.36 a.m. Bermuda time taking on the 7125-yard, par-72 layout, competing against 135 players for a $16,000 first prize.

Sims is looking for a drastic improvement on last week?s performance as he looks to make the most of the benefits afforded by the second-tier tour.

?It?s a great mini-tour to be involved with,? said Sims, who has consistently attempted to take the Q School route to the PGA.

?There are plenty of fringe benefits to the Canadian Tour, with opportunities to qualify for PGA events and even miss the first round of Q School,? continued Sims.

?You get different things from different tours but this is a good one to be involved with.?

The event will be televised in highlight form on the Golf Channel over the next four days.