Michael Sims put his stuttering form of late behind him as he fired an impressive three-under par 69 in the opening round of the Nationwide Tour's WNB Classic in Midland, Texas yesterday.

In an effort ruined only by a bogey at his penultimate hole, the par-four 17th, the 30-year-old recorded five birdies, three of them coming on the front nine where he picked up shots at the second, fifth and ninth – all par fours.

He continued that form on the inward nine at the 7,380-yard, par-72 Midland Country Club, picking up another birdie at the 14th before his single blemish at the 17th.

With several players still out on the course as Sims left the clubhouse, he wouldn't have been aware of his finishing position, although at that time he was only three shots behind the leader.

Another sub-par round today would almost certainly ensure he makes the cut for the first time in three weeks, having struggled at both the Boise Open in Idaho and the Utah Championships in Sandy, Utah.

Currently 74th on the Nationwide Tour moneylist, the season's remaining tournaments are crucial for Sims as he attempts to retain his Tour status.

This week, the winner can pick up $94,500 from a $525,000 purse.

The top 60 on the moneylist after the final four events, including this week's, will advance to the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina.

The final top 25 will earn 2010 PGA Tour cards.

n Dwayne Pearman and Scott Roy battled back yesterday to add an air of respectability to their attempts to qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

The Bermuda pair shot a five-under par 66 in the third round to move to four-under for the tournament and put something breathing space between themselves and the team from Uruguay who are six shots back.

However, the pair are still sitting in 14th place out of 15 teams involved in the South America qualifiers in Venezuela, and although technically still in with a chance of qualifying, Pearman and Roy are 14 shots adrift of the top three.

After a second round 74 had ruined any chance they might of had of catching the leaders, yesterday was all about restoring some pride. They didn't have the best start, when they bogeyed the par-three second, but Pearman and Roy regrouped to fire six birdies over the rest of their round.

The pair return to the course today for the fourth and final round, an alternate-shot foursomes, the same format that saw them struggle so badly in the second round.