Bermuda's Michael Sims failed to make the cut at the Nationwide Tour's Moonah Classic in Fringal, Victoria, Australia yesterday.

Sims, who shot a two-over par 74 during the opening round on Thursday, did the same yesterday to leave him at four-over 148 tied for 112th place.

Sims began on the back nine yesterday and was soon in trouble when he double bogeyed the par four 11th. He then pulled one back on the 12th carding a birdie on the par four hole. He got back to even with a birdie on the par four 14th but then gave a shot back at the par four 16th and another on the par five 18th.

He birdied the par five second hole and also the par five fourth hole but then bogeyed the par three fifth hole and the par three seventh hole.

The first round produced 21 eagles and 537 birdies while the second round just three eagles and 395 birdies. Seventy five players shot one over or better to make the 36-hole cut.

Last week's New Zealand Open champion Robert Gates posted a 72 today to go along with yesterday's 71 and he is tied for 37th at one under.

American Jim Herman, who shot a stunning first-round 62 to set a new Moonah Links course record and grab a four-shot lead, carded a two-under 70 in very windy conditions yesterday to maintain the lead by three shots.

Aussie Steven Jones is Herman's closest pursuer. The 25-year-old posted the day's low score of 67 to finish at nine-under 135.

Two players are tied at seven under, Andrew Buckle of Australia and Fabian Gomez of Argentina, with identical two-day tallies of 69-68-137.

A pair of Aussies, Steven Bowditch and Andre Stolz, join Canadian Jon Mills and Doug LaBelle of the US in a tie for fifth at six-under 138.

Yesterday the 32-year-old Herman missed the first three greens but saved par on each with putts from four-feet. His other par save came on the 15th hole. Birdie putts were produced from 15 feet and four feet on the sixth and 14th holes, respectively. Additional birdie opportunities of 15 feet or less on the first four holes of the back nine were not converted.

The winds that are so familiar to the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne picked up considerably yesterday producing scores that were almost two shots higher on average than Thursday.