After falling apart on the final hole of the $500,000 Athens Regional Foundation Classic in Georgia over the weekend, one might have expected Michael Sims to be feeling down in the dumps yesterday.

Far from it.

Rather than crying over spilt milk, an upbeat Sims instead spent most of the day preparing for this week’s Henrico County Open in Richmond, Virginia.

The Bermudian pro had fought back gallantly to make his second Nationwide Tour cut of the year. But any hopes he had of collecting a decent pay cheque went up in smoke on the 18th hole on Sunday where he carded a horrendous five-over par 10.

He had to settle for a five-over-par final round of 77 that left him on 292 for the tournament — in dead last place among those who made the cut, and with a consolation cheque for $1,500.

Sims said a wayward shot off the tee which saw him pull his drive wide of the fairway was followed by a succession of miscues as he hit into the water hazard on three occasions at the par-five 542-yard hole — where only a day earlier he had made birdie.

“I hit three balls in the water and really didn’t know what was happening. But it doesn’t even matter talking about it because I played so many other holes better,” Sims said.

“You have to move on and reflect on the good things that happened last week. I hit the ball really well and then actually started putting a lot better.

“I didn’t actually make a lot of putts, but overall I thought my putts were hit at a good pace towards the hole.”

Sims had carded three birdies and three bogeys during Sunday’s final round before disaster struck right at the death.

“I did so many better things and making the cut was very good after struggling on that front nine. I had to really gather myself,” he added.

The University of Rhodes graduate who turned pro in 2002 now hopes to make a third Nationwide Tour cut of the year in Virginia later this week, and will be aiming to finish higher up the leaderboard.

“My ball striking is there and now I’m beginning to feel that I can make some putts,” added Sims, the 2005 Bermuda Open champion. “I’m just hoping to play better and post better numbers.”

Sims fired an opening round three-under 69 at the 7,004-yard Jennings Mill Country Club last Thursday and secured his place in the field over the weekend by following up with a one-over 73 on Friday.

He now moves on to this week’s Henrico County Open at the 7,089-yard, par-72 Curtis Strange-designed Dominion Club lay-out in Virginia where he will be confronted by lakeside greens on the ninth and 18th holes that provide a spectacular finish to each nine.