Michael Sims begins the third day of his most painstaking tournament unsure of what he needs to stay in the hunt.

Steady thunder showers since early this week are constantly changing the character of the golf course at the par-70 Hardscrabble Country Club in Arkansas, USA, where the pro rookie golfer is engaged in battle in his fifth Buy.Com event.

So as he sets out for his delayed second round of the Fort Smith Classic at 10.45 a.m. (Bermuda time) today, Sims is probably the most uncertain he has been on tour thus far. It's likely that a repeat of the one-under he carded in his first round - which he finally finished yesterday - should be enough to see him on the favourable side of the cut, but who knows.

"I couldn't tell you (what it will take to make the cut) because I don't know how the course will be after today (yesterday). The greens are going to get bumpy (from being repeatedly traversed) because they are so wet and soft.

"I really don't know how that's going to affect scores and how low the cut will be," said the 23-year-old who was five shots behind the leader, Grover Justice.

What he can attest to is that this tournament is proving a serious test of mental strength and that those who prevail will be the ones who handle it best.

Only about half the field started their opening round on Thursday and those who did managed about five holes before rain banished everyone to the clubhouse.

"These are trying conditions which are really testing your patience because it's taking so long (to complete a round). You just have to put the situation in the back of your mind. Everybody is in the same position," noted Sims, who was at two-under after playing just four holes on Thursday.

Yesterday, he resumed on the back nine and carried his two-under onto the front nine where he sank three birdies but stumbled with two bogeys and a double bogey.

Asked if given the stop-start situation he was pleased or disappointed with his first round, he replied: "A bit of both. I hit the ball well enough to shoot more under-par but I did hit a few sloppy shots. I played the par-threes on the front nine at four-over. That's not good but those were just a few bad mistakes.

"It was really wet so it was all carry in the last couple of days when you were hitting your shots. You had to watch what you were doing controlling your spin coming into the greens. It wasn't very windy but every now and then a breeze would kick up."

A potentially long day awaits Sims who, should he make today's cut, will play his third round this afternoon as organisers try to get the tournament back on track - and back on time.