Date: October 29, 2007
Author:

Sim hangs on Ginn finish

Shigeki Maruyama, Frederik Jacobson and Daniel Chopra are leading the way after play was once again suspended at the Ginn Sur Mer Classic, leaving Australian Michael Sim sweating over the final result. The leading trio are all on eighteen under but as most of the third round had to be completed on Sunday, the late tee-off times for the fourth round forced play to be suspended for poor light once again. Maruyama and Jacobson have therefore completed 16 holes but it appears as if Chopra is in pole position to take the PGA Tour&aposs final event as he has three holes remaining to take the lead. Of the Australasians, Sim has performed the best and is currently in the top 10 on the leaderboard. However, as several players are still to finish it appears as if Sim could drop further back down the field. For Sim, who carded one-under 72s in both the third and fourth rounds on Sunday, a top 10 finish is vital, for at 177 on the Tour money list, he requires top 10 prize money in order to enter the top 150 and gain a provisional place on the Tour for 2008. While the top 125 are automatic qualifiers for next season, 125 to 150 earn provisional places that allow them to play certain select PGA tournaments throughout next year. Sim, though, is currently at 12-under overall, but could slip back as Briny Baird and joint second round-leader Bob Estes are also on this score with three holes to play on Monday morning. For Sim&aposs compatriot, Paul Gow it was a similar story. At 185 on the money list, Gow also required a top 10 finish, however a two-over 75 score in his fourth round saw him slip back to seven-under overall. One stroke further back is Andrew Buckle, who at 142 on the prize money list could potentially remain on the Tour next season. It was a good third and fourth rounds for Buckle, though, as he picked up consecutive scores of two-under 71. However, for New Zealander Grant Waite, it is back to the Nationwide Tour. Waite is currently on 221 on the money list, with such a position not helped by his low finish on the leaderboard through a final round four-over 77.