A birdie at the par-five 18th hole saved what might otherwise have been seen as a disappointing round for Michael Sims as he looked to continue his charge up the Nationwide Tour moneylist.

But he still has much to do in today's second round if he's to make the cut at the Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Missouri.

Coming off his best performance of the season at the Wichita Open last week, Sims yesterday finished with a one-under par 71.

That left him in a tie for 97th in a field of 156 with the majority of players shooting under par at the 7,115-yard, par-72 Highland Springs Country Club course.

The 30-year-old Bermudian had slipped from two under at the turn to even par with two dropped shots on the back nine before finishing with his third birdie of the day.

Sims, based in Georgia but back in Bermuda recently with his coach when he played the renovated Port Royal course, picked up $13,750 – his biggest cheque of the season – following a ninth place tie in Wichita which moved him up 14 places on the Tour moneylist.

This week's event is offering $112,500 to the winner from a total purse of $625,000.

Leader after the first round with eight-under scores of 64 is American Chad Collins.