Big-hitting golfer Timmy James drove a whopping 348 yards off the tee at the Re/Max World Long Distance Championship Caribbean and Latin qualifier in Puerto Rico yesterday.

But it still wasn't enough to earn the Bermudian a spot in this month's final in Las Vegas.

James came up short against Mexican Jose Samar in a play-off for the fifth and final spot in the seniors division.

Samar now advances through to today's final qualifying round of the 2007 Long Drive Championship at the San Jose Golf Academy.

James struggled to keep the ball in play in blustery conditions during yesterday's first round, but rebounded in the second round when he produced the day's longest drive.

"I failed to find the grid driving into a strong head wind and fell victim to double elimination when I hit six balls out of bounds," explained James, speaking from the Caribbean island.

Samar, who eventually equalled James' best effort, struggled in the second round to set the stage for a showdown with his Bermudian rival.

The Mexican recorded a drive of 314 yards in the play-off that James (303) could not match.

"Samar is a great guy," added James. "It was a great event, and I'll be back next year."

Bermuda's Daniel Augustus competes today in the men's open division.

Meanwhile, pro Michael Sims saw his hopes of retaining his Nationwide Tour card take another dive at the Mark Christopher Charity Classic in Rancho Cucamonga, California yesterday.

After carding a two-over par 73 in Thursday's opening round at the 7,107-yard, par-71 Empire Lakes Golf Club, the Bermudian needed to bounce back yesterday.

But starting on the back nine, he recorded a horrendous quadruple bogey eight on the par-four 12th and then followed up with bogeys on 15, 16 and 17 to finish his front nine with a seven-over par 43 and was almost certain to miss the half-way cut.

The WNB Golf Classic is next week in Midland, Texas, followed by the Chattanooga Classic when Sims will be hoping to finish his season with a flourish.