Sim simply stunning at Stonebrae
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Stonebrae Classic | Round Four | 06 Apr 2009
West Australian Michael Sim has converted some consistent early season form into victory with a six shot win at the inaugural Stonebrae Classic in Hayward, California. For Sim it is his second Nationwide Tour title following his win at the 2006 Palmetto Pride event.
Sim was simply brilliant today extending his one shot 54 hole lead over Matt Every to six over fellow countryman Cameron Percy and American John Simbell. Even with the pressure of leading the event and the expectation of winning, Sim was still able to produce the best round of the day (64) by two shots.
The US$108,000 for his victory moves Sim to US$182,000 and to the top of the 2009 Nationwide Tour money list, indicating that a return to the PGA Tour for him in 2010 is all but assured. Sim is likely to need another US$40,000 to be inside the all-important top 25 at year’s end but it is likely now that he has set his sights much higher than that.
Sim, whose early professional career was plagued by back injuries, appears to be back to his very best, the victory this week following a 7th place at the Johnnie Walker Classic, 4th at the Moonah Classic and 3rd at the New Zealand PGA.
Percy followed up his own round of 64 in round three with another solid round of 68 to equal his previous best finish on the Nationwide Tour, which came in Midland, Texas last year when he again finished runner up to another tearaway Australian leader, Marc Leishman.
Andrew Buckle and Nick Flanagan completed a good week for Australians by finishing in a share of 6th.
The Nationwide Tour will next play at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic in Athens, Georgia on April 16th.
