Michael Sims is clinging on for dear life at the PGA Tour Q School in Florida.

The 27-year-old shot a one-over par 71 at the Lake Jovita Country Club in Dade City yesterday to finish tied for 18th — only two places above the 20 and ties where he must finish to advance the third and final stage for the first time in his professional career.

Sims sits at six-under for the tournament — seven shots off the leader but only one above a whole bunch of players tied for 24th on minus-5.

Yesterday’s round was more up and and down than the first two on the 7,124-yard course, with the 2005 Bermuda Open champion recording five birdies and four bogeys in an 18-holes where any attempt to build up some sort of momentum was undermined by a dropped shots.

Even still, this is by far the best performance Sims has ever produced in six-years of second-phase Q School competition — though he will most likely have to shoot under par again today in the make-or-break final round to go through.

Close to 600 golfers spread across six courses have been battling it out this week for a place in the third stage — something that brings with it the chance of a PGA Tour card, or a conditional pass onto the Nationwide Tour at the bare minimum.