Last year Australian Paul Sheehan outlasted compatriot Michael Sim in a playoff to claim top honours at the $600,000 Jacob’s Creek Open in Adelaide.

This time around he might have his hands full of Bermuda’s own Michael Sims, who touched down on Australia’s southern coast earlier this week brimming full of confidence on top of a strong showing in Colombia two weeks ago.

The 28-year-old touring pro shot a three-under-par 281 at the Colombia Masters played at the Bogota Country Club to grab a share of third place along with Colombian Camilo Benedetti — and a healthy $11,375 for his efforts. Sims tees off today at the 6,142 yard Kooyonga Golf Club — which has hosted five Australian Opens — feeling “pretty good” about his game — and his chances for success Down Under.

“I definitely feel good about my game at the moment and also looking forward to playing this week,” Sims told The Royal Gazette from Adelaide yesterday.

During the third round of the Colombia Masters, Sims led the field by as many as six strokes. But a series of bogeys over the closing holes triggered a gradual slide that spilled over to the final round and ultimately put paid to any hopes of a maiden victory on the pro circuit. “I think I could chipped it a little better,” Sims said of his last effort.

“But overall l think it was still a very good performance.”

He now hopes to go one better in Adelaide this week at a course which in the native aboriginal tongue means sand and swampy water — undoubtedly two obstacles Sims will be trying to avoid.

“It’s definitely going to be hot and I think the course will get hard and fast. But the course itself looks to be in mint condition,” the debuting Nationwide Tour player assessed.

The par 72 layout features undulating fairways which culminate with fortified sloping, pacy greens that require skill and demand respect.

[bul]Bermuda’s Tour De Las Americas player Dwayne Pearman — a long-time friend of Sims — withdrew from the $175,000 Costa Rica Open in Costa Rica last week after receiving sad news of the death of an aunt.

The former Bermuda Open and Belmont Invitational champion shot an impressive even-par 71 during the opening round and held a share of 15th place among a field of 144 before retiring.

Argentine Miguel Rodriguez shot a nine-under par 275 to edge compatriots Juan Abbate and Gustavo Acosta by a single stroke to claim the $28,000 winner’s cheque.