A week away from competitive action while the US Open played out looks to have worked wonders for Michael Sims, after the Bermuda number one shot a four-under-par 68 yesterday at the Knoxville Open to finish tied for third overnight.

Struggling with both his game and his confidence this year after missing ten out of 12 cuts in his debut season on the Nationwide Tour, Sims was well aware going into yesterday’s round at the $475,000 event on the 7,110-yard, par-72 Fox Den Country Club course that he would have to start producing in the middle and latter parts of the season if he is to avoid the nerve-shredding nightmare of PGA Q-School all over again.

And on a low-scoring day, when almost half the field shot under par, the former Bermuda Open champion produced a magnificent, bogey-free round — putting well and getting up and down brilliantly from tight spots.

Sims is four shots back of the leader, American Kyle MacCarthy who is on eight-under.

A good finish in Tennessee this week would certainly be appreciated by Sims’ bank account: he’s made less than $3,000 in prize money so far on America’s second-tier tour.