Michael Sims found himself nine shots off the lead and well down the field after he struggled to a two-over par 73 in the first round of the Nationwide Tour's Rex Hospital Open in Raleigh, North Carolina yesterday.

After a sparkling start to the season, the 30-year-old Bermuda pro missed the cut in his last event on the Tour, the BMW Pro-Am two weeks' ago, and he will need an exceptional round today in order to continue playing over the weekend.

Sims' 73 included three bogeys and a single birdie at the 7,257-yard, par 71 TPC Wakefield Plantation course.

The $525,000 event is offering a first place prize of $94,500.

Sims earned $35,540 in his first four events on the tour this year and currently sits in 39th place on the money leaders' list.