Michael Sims ripped through the Cypresswood Golf Club like a Texas twister yesterday, leaving a remarkable seven birdies among the carnarge on the way to firing the day's lowest round of six-under-par 66 to grab a share of sixth place and qualify for the second stage of PGA Tour Q School.

Saving his absolute best for last, the Bermudian shredded the 7,638-yard, par-72 Texas layout after beginning the day at even par in a tie for 18th to keep his hopes of securing another lucrative US tour card next year alive.

All Sims required to advance to the next stage of qualifiers was to finish among the top 20. But the 2005 Bermuda Open champion was determined not to cut it close.

The Nationwide Tour player could not have asked for a brighter start as he birdied three of the opening nine holes to swiftly move to three-under for the round and start his assault on the leaderboard. Sims made birdie at the par-four second and par-five fifth and seventh holes to grasp early momentum.

The back nine would also prove a happy hunting ground for Sims, who turned pro in 2002, as the birdies continued to drop. After stumbling at the par-four 13th where he made a rare bogey after missing the green, the 28-year-old dusted himself off and responded by birdieing four of the final five holes (14, 15, 17 and 18) to finish the day just as it had begun - on solid ground.

"I hit the ball really well today (yesterday) and made some good putts, which was really good," Sims told The Royal Gazette, before boarding a flight to Florida to join friends for the weekend. "I putted well and had a lot of good looks at birdies and when you are putting like that you have to get away from yourself and just enjoy the ride. My swing has also been good this week - I was on point driving off the tee with my irons.

"On Tuesday I was a bit tired while the conditions were tough. Wednesday I finished my round early before the weather changed, which made it a lot easier for me. And then on Thursday I just made a few mistakes down the stretch, but I have been hitting the ball well over over the last three weeks."

Sims, who has endured mixed fortunes during his debut season on the Nationwide Tour, finished tied with fellow pro Greg Sonnier at 282, six under for the 72-hole event. And undoubtedly the Island's top golfer, ranked 118 on the Nationwide money list, will now look to carry on in the same vein when the second stage of the PGA Q School begins on November 14.

Sims made only one double bogey this week, at the par three, 169-yard 14th during Tuesday's opening round which saw him come in at two-over-par 74.

Staged near the end of each season, Q School eventually determines the top 25 players (and ties) who will gain exemption to the lucrative US PGA Tour next year, with all who reach the third stage gaining some kind of Nationwide Tour status.

A total of 12 qualifying events to be staged across the US from October 24 to November 17.

After a string of misses Sims made the breakthrough to earn his Nationwide card after reaching the final stage of Q School, widely regarded as one of golf's stiffest tests of endurance, nerve and mental strength, to finish last year on a high.

The Rhodes University graduate warmed up for this week's event with a strong finish at the $475,000 Chattanooga Classic in Tennessee last weekend to grab a share of 34th place.