It was once, twice, three times lucky for Michael Sims as he made his first cut in a Buy.Com Tour event yesterday.

The Bermudian pro rookie golfer finished at three under par after two rounds in the 2002 Knoxville Open in Tennessee to be in a 15-way tie for 30th place and relishing the opportunity to make at run at the leaders over the next two days. The cut was at two under par.

Sims, playing in his third Buy.Com tournament, bounced back from a birdie and three bogeys in the first nine holes yesterday to register three birdies on the back nine for a score of 71 on the par-72 Fox Den Country Club course. This, added to his first-day score of 70 (on Thursday), gave him an overall score of 141; six shots off front-runner Scott Sterling's nine-under-par 135.

Three other golfers, including joint overnight leader Curt Byrum, were tied for second at seven under par.

"It's great. It's definitely a nice feeling knowing that I'll be coming back here on the weekend. I played well this week and who knows what will happen.

"I've hit the ball well. Me and my putter started getting along better. It's been good to accomplish one of my goals this week. Now, I'll just take it from there," said Sims sounding happy as he discussed his success thus far with the Royal Gazette yesterday afternoon.

Though on the right end of the cut this time, there were some challenges for the 23-year-old who is in his first season on the professional circuit.

"I didn't play my last five holes too well today. I struggled coming in. I was hitting good shots but the wind was swirling around and it was tough to figure things out. I was on the wrong side a couple times."

Sims, who was at the golf course as early as 5.50 a.m. (6.50 a.m. Bermuda time), has noticed some differences in playing conditions over the six days he has been on it.

"In the practice round, the greens were playing really soft and you had to hit half-shots into them. Then yesterday (Thursday), when I teed off, the greens were a little firmer and the fairways were rolling out a little bit and the rain delay softenend them up a bit but they were still really good yesterday afternoon.

"Today (yesterday) the course was a lot softer because it rained last night. The greens were very soft and it was tough controlling the spin sometimes, hitting iron shots from there."

Optimistic about his chances over the next two rounds, Sims believes the tandem forces of skill and luck hold the key for him.

"I just need to go out there and do what I've been doing for the last couple days. I hit the ball really well the first two days. If I can continue to do that I feel the putts will start falling. I feel good. It's just getting the putter really hot and having things go your way. If I can just get a good round going I'll be all right."

What of the potential for another round of 67 which he fired in Monday's qualifier?

Confidently, he replied: "Sure, that's the plan - 67 or lower."

The course record is 64 and is jointly held by Chris Smith and Don Reese, both of whom established that mark in 2000. The tournament record of 261 was set by Tim Conley in 1993.