GREER – Michael Sim continued his domination of the Nationwide Tour on Sunday by adding a win at one of its most prestigious events
to his bulging resume. The 24-year-old Australian defeated Argentina’s Fabian Gomez on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff on the 18th at Thornblade Club to win the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Gomez executed a slick up and down from the front right bunker with a 15-foot putt for par on No. 18 in regulation to remain tied with Sim at 22 under and force the additional hole. The roles were reversed in the playoff, which also took place on the 18th, as Sim’s approach found the same bunker while Gomez played it safe to the far left of green, leaving a tricky downhill 40-footer. Sim played a brilliant shot from the sand with his ball checking up about five feet past the pin while Gomez left a turning 5-footer for his par. Gomez went first and lipped out his try before Sim found the heart of the cup with the tourney clincher. “I was just playing my game and focusing like the first three days,” Gomez said, through an interpreter. Despite evening things up on the first nine, he never checked a scoreboard until No. 9. As for the missed putt in overtime that cost him the win, Gomez said because of the soaked greens, “it was tough to find the line, whether to hit it firmer or on the break.”
The victory was Sim’s second this season and continues one of the hottest starts in the tour’s history. Sims would likely be on the PGA Tour if not for a stress fracture of the spine in late 2006 that hampered his progress. Now healthy, he’s showing just how good he can be.