Michael Sims' fairytale start to the South American Tour Q-School evaporated yesterday as he ballooned to a four-over 76 in the penultimate round in the USA.

However, the Bermudian remains among the top golfers - now third on the leaderboard at four-under 212 overall - though conceding six shots to front-runner Magnus Carlsson of Sweden.

Despite carding an even-par 72 yesterday, Carlsson heads the standings on ten-under 206 and is still within sight of equalling or breaking Bonaventure Country Club's record of 15-under set last year by Lucas Glover in the same event.

American Adam Armagost has replaced Sims in second position on seven-under as the Tour de las Americas qualifier continued in Weston, Florida.

Sims, who began the tournament with two solid rounds of 68, is vying for playing rights on the Tour which holds events in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico.

Following this, the 24-year-old - who is in his second year as a pro - will compete in the PGA Tour Q-School, a three-stage qualifier which has playing rights on the PGA and Nationwide Tours up for grabs.

Canadian club professional Ian Doig blazed a hot trail in the opening round of the Bermuda Open at Port Royal yesterday as he toured the front nine in a sensational six-under-par 30, posting four birdies and an eagle at the par five seventh.

Doig, a regular visitor to Bermuda and a winner of the Belmont Invitation in 1984, 1985 and 1987, cooled down on the back nine with just one birdie and two bogeys but finished on five-under 66 to lead his closest rival, T.R.Jones (69) by three shots.

Defending champion, Bermuda's Dwayne Pearman opened with a one-over-par 72.

Full story, see page 19.

Full first round scores, see Scoreboard.