West Australian Michael Sim has sent a not-so-subtle reminder of his prodigious talent as he heads into the weekend at Concord with a two-shot lead and a serious crack at yet another Open title on Australian shores.
Today he marched up the Golf Challenge New South Wales Open leaderboard with his typically classical golf – eight birdies and bogey-free for what he thinks might be the first time in his career after 36 holes.
I got off to a fast start. I drove the green on the first and two-putted (for birdie), then hit close irons on two and three for birdie and made a good birdie on seven out of the bunker when I was just trying to make par,” said Sim, who is now based on the Gold Coast.
I had it going early, five-under through eight. I was saying to the boys after the practice round that I like the golf course. I like playing tree-lined golf. It’s just been two great days, without a bogey. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.
Asked whether he felt confident leading from the front, Sim said: “I’ve been in this position before. I know what to expect, it’s nothing new to me. I’ve played tournament golf for 20 years now so I know what the feelings are going to be like. Once you get past the first couple of holes you settle into the round and hopefully, there’ll be a few more birdies.”
If Sim adds the NSW Open to his Qld PGA (2020) and WA Open (2019), it will have been more than eight years since a New South Welshman last lifted the Kel Nagle Cup. The last to do so was Aron Price who triumphed in 2013.
