Three bogeys at the last three holes took the shine off Michael Sims’ third round score in his quest to clear the first hurdle between him and a place on a lucrative US tour next year.

Despite the late slip-ups, Bermuda’s number one golfer remains well-placed to advance to the second stage of PGA Tour Q School following yesterday’s two-over-par 74.

Sims is tied for 18th place on the leaderboard in the Q School first-phase event at the Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring, Texas. To progress, he will need to be in the top 20 and ties — though the precise number of qualifiers will not be known until later today — after today’s fourth and final round.

Sims started yesterday on two-under for the tournament, tied for ninth place. After bogeying the par-four second hole, he bounced back well with birdies at the sixth, eighth and tenth holes to put himself in an excellent position.

His day ended badly, as he dropped four shots at the last six holes, including a bogey at the 13th and three more at 16, 17 and 18, to leave him on even par after three rounds.

Sims is looking to progress to the third phase of Q School to earn his card either for a second year on the Nationwide Tour or even to reach the highest level of the sport, the PGA Tour.