Golf pro Michael Sims has made a sensational start in his first appearance on the Nationwide Tour this year.

After Thursday's first round of the $550,000 Louisiana Open, the 29-year-old Bermudian was tied for the lead with American Fran Quinn, carding a stunning seven-under-par 64 at the Le Triomphe Country Club.

And when darkness stopped play in the second round last night, Sims – in the last group to tee off in the 144-strong field – was tied for second at eight-under-par after playing 10 holes, leaving him to finish the round with eight more holes this morning.

He got off to a sparkling start yesterday by claiming a birdie at the opening par-five before bogeying the par-three third.

But he quickly got back on track holing another birdie at the par-five seventh and then parred the next three holes before organisers decided to call it a day with the light rapidly fading.

Leader Garth Mulroy is nine-under, just one shot ahead of Sims, having played 12 holes.

Sims is tied for second with Drew Laning who finished his round with a 66, with several former PGA stars lurking close behind as the event heads into the weekend.

One of them is Bubba Dickerson who fired 64 and moved up from 64th overnight into a tie for fourth in an event which has been hit on both days by rain and lightning delays.

On Thursday, Sims picked up eight birdies and just one bogey to return his best-ever round since playing on the tour which is regarded as the breeding ground for the world's top golf circuit, the PGA Tour.

He only earned his right to play in the Broussard tournament in Louisiana after having made his mark at last Monday's qualifier which was eventually decided in an 10-man play-off after one round.

Only three from that group advanced to the 72-hole main event, contested on the demanding 7,006-yard, par-71 lay-out. And Sims was among that trio.

Should his superb form continue over the weekend, his career could receive an enormous boost.

Those in the finishing top 25 will automatically qualify for the next Nationwide Tour event. And should he top the leaderboard following tomorrow's final round, and pick up the winner's $99,000 cheque, he would earn tour exemption for two years and open doors to play in the PGA Tour.

Father Bruce, who Michael spoke to following the first round, remained cautiously optimistic yesterday, saying: "Michael feels he's playing really well. He's been preparing all winter and feels good.

"He said he hit the ball really well yesterday (Thursday) and made a bunch of putts.

"It's going to be a nervous weekend for me."

Sims recently finished sixth on a Tarheel mini-tour event but has only once placed in the top 20 on the Nationwide Tour, before losing his playing status at the end of 2007.

He regained partial exemption by reaching the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School late last year and will be eligible for only selected tour tournaments this year. But that could all change depending on his form this weekend.

The Lousiana Open, in its 18th year, is the first stop on the Nationwide's North American schedule, athough events have already been held in Australia and New Zealand this year.

Next week's event is the Stonebrae Classic at the TPC San Francisco Bay.