Bermuda's star amateur golfer Michael Sims remained in the hunt for a lucrative PGA Tour card yesterday when he began the second stage of Qualifying School with a two-over par round of 74 at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Having safely negotiated the first qualifying stage in Texas last month, 22 year-old Sims finds himself in a much tougher field this time around with several former Tour players entering the fray.

However, while the first of his four rounds in windy conditions yesterday morning left him trailing first round leader Chris Kaufman of Florida by seven shots, the Bermudian finished the day tied for 43rd in a field of 81.

Only the top 20 players plus ties will advance to the final qualifying stage in Florida early next month when the survivors of the first two stages battle over six gruelling rounds in an attempt to secure first and foremost a PGA Tour card, or alternatively a spot on the Buy.Com Tour.

Sims was in the first group to tee off yesterday morning and although not entirely satisfied with his round, realised it could have been much worse, according to his father, Bruce Sims.

"When he played it was pretty windy," said Bruce last night. "In the middle of his round he went through a really bad stretch where he took a triple bogey at number eight and then bogeyed nine and 10. So he was four over on the front.

"But he came back in two-under-par on the back nine, so he rebounded very well.

"It's the first round, so he isn't too unhappy. If it were the third round, it would be a problem. But he's got plenty of time to recover and he says he feels pretty good."

Among those competing at the Hombre Golf Club are several well-known names who have been unable to retain their Tour cards in recent years.

They include Gary Nicklaus, the son of legend Jack Nicklaus, who positioned himself well yesterday with a two-under-par 70 which left him tied for ninth.

Tommy Armour (69), John Maginnes (69), Andrew Morse (70), Ben Bates (71), Bob Friend (72), Lee Rinker (75). Mike Donald (76), Dicky Pride (77) and Chip Beck (78) are others who are fighting to regain a spot on the Tour.

Rhode Island University student Sims, who during the summer won two major amateur tournaments in the US and reached the quarter-finals of the prestigious US Amateur, is due to tee off in his second round at 11.00 a.m. Bermuda time today.