Bermuda's top golfer Michael Sims conquered Belmont Hills' notorious sloped greens, obscured pin placements and the flu bug to card yesterday's lowest round at the $50,000 Gosling's Invitational.

The 28-year-old, fresh off a debut season on the Nationwide Tour, fired a three-under-par 67 to go along with an opening round 69 to haul himself to within three strokes of leader Brian McCann — despite not being in the best of health.

"The good news is that we are taking carts this week. The golf cart really helps as I'm not using much energy walking around the course. I played really well today and hit my wedges really good," Sims said.

He was also steady driving off the tee, spliting the fairways with accuracy for the most part, while his short game was just as impressive.

Sims mixed six birdies with three bogeys to remain in the hunt for top honors heading into today's third day after negotiating the course's hidden pins.

"Some of the pin placements were tough. They really dictate how the scores are going to be," he acknowledged. "But I'm really pleased with a 67 and would be very excited if I could get two more of those."

Early pace-setter Brian McCann still tops the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the 72-hole event. After equalling the course record with a sizzling 64 on the first day Canadian McCann followed up with a one-under-par 69 yesterday - but failed to add to a three-shot cushion at the summit.

The former Nationwide Tour player had two birdies and for the second straight day eagled the par-five sixth hole.

At one stage McCann, who is seven under for the tournament, threatened to run away with the event but in the end was left to rue what might have been, had it not been for two humbling bogeys on the back nine.

The 33-year-old pro bogeyed the 14th and 18th holes to lose a bit of momentum heading to the clubhouse.

"That was a terrible bogey (14) and then I hit another at 18. I hit a terrible second shot out of bounds and had to take a drop for a lost ball that I hit to within six feet and made a good putt to save bogey. I made a couple of mistakes," he said.

"Today's round could've been a lot better than it was. But it was still under par and if you shoot four rounds under par out here you should have a chance to win. But I definitely left some shots out on the golf course."

Tied with Sims in second is four-time Gosling's Invitational winner Tim Conley who added a 69 to his opening round score of 67 to keep pace with McCann.

This year's Bermuda Open champion produced another steady round of golf that yielded three birdies on a course that began to bare its teeth yesterday.

"I think the course played a little tougher today. On the back nine 18 played a lot longer and 16 was more difficult," he said.

"A couple of pins were really in some tough spots and overall I think the rest of the field would agree the course played a couple of shots harder than it did yesterday (Monday)."

Conley will tee off today with Sims and McCann.

Bermuda's Dwayne Pearman is currently in eighth spot after carding a one-over-par 71 yesterday while defending champion PH Horgan III, who came in at even par for the second straight day, is a shot back in ninth.

Promising youngster Daniel Augustus continues to lead the open amateur division. Augustus shot a three-over-par 73 and leads nearest rival Jeffrey Lindo by three shots with two days left to play in what is shaping up to be a two-horse race between the two.

"The conditions were difficult but basically I just had to stick it out," said Augustus, who is making his debut in the Invitational.

In the senior division, day one leader Arthur Lindo fell slightly off the pace to pave the way for Noel Van Putten to surge into the lead. Van Putten shot a respectable two-over-par 72 while Lindo ballooned to an 82 to slip back to third in a tie with Millard Beach.

Quinton Sherlock, who had a six-over-par 76 yesterday, currently sits in second.

The 2007 Gosling's Invitational continues today at Belmont Hills.