Michael Sims shot a two-over-par 74 yesterday to keep himself well in contention to progress through the first stage of PGA Tour Q School.

The Bermudian is aiming to earn himself a second year on the Nationwide Tour but to do so will have to progress through to the third and final phase of the tough qualifying process.

Yesterday Sims started the nerve-jangling test with a steady round at the Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring, Texas, where he made 15 pars, one birdie, a bogey and a double bogey.

His round left him two shots adrift of the qualifying places in the four-round, first phase event and tied for 36th place in the field of 76 players. Generally the top 19, 20 or 21 and ties will progress to the second phase, although the number of qualifiers from the event has yet to be determined.

The shorter holes gave Sims the most trouble yesterday. A bogey at the par-three eighth hole was his only blemish on the front nine, while at the par-three, 169-yard 14th, he committed a double bogey.

Sims bounced back with his first birdie of the day at the 357-yard, par-four 15th hole to keep himself in the hunt to advance.