AUSTRALIAN SIM CAPTURES 98TH SOUTHERN AM

Ooltewah, Tenn. -- Like a lot of other Australians, Michael Sim ends almost all of his conversations with the phrase, "No worries." 

That's also how the 19-year-old from Perth finished the 98th Southern Amateur Championship at The Honors Course on Saturday. 

Sim birdied Nos. 2 and 3 to build a six-stroke lead early and cruised in with a 1-under-par 71. He finished with a 10-under-par 278 to beat U.S. Open low am Spencer Levin by three strokes.

"I played very solid today," Sim said. "To win this tournament is just massive. It's a great feeling right now."

The final-round pairing of Sim, Levin and 32-year-old career amateur Trip Kuehne had the potential to be a heavyweight competition.

It ended up being a knockout.

Kuehne finished the day with a 76, tumbling out of contention early with a double bogey on No. 4. He pulled his drive into the woods right and punched
out on his way to making 6. Levin didn't make a birdie until No. 15, and though he finished with a bogey-free 70, he never sniffed the lead.

"Me and Trip were talking, and that was the start we wanted to get off to," Levin said of Sim's front nine. "When you have a four-shot lead and get two birdies early, that's tough. He played extremely well today."

David Noll Jr. of Dalton, Ga., and Ryan Posey of Dallas were 2 under through three holes, but neither mounted a serious charge. First-day leader Andrew Black of Chattanooga finished third at 5 under after firing a 69. He wondered aloud what might have been if not for a second-round 76.

"I'm pleased with how I played overall," he said. "I played three good rounds and one bad one or I might've had a chance."

Black, a former Tennessee Vol golfer, opened with a 5-under-par 67 for a three-shot lead in an opening round that was halted by rain and completed the following morning. Although Levin opened with a pedestrian 73, he served notice that he had come to play with a near hole-in-one on the 15th hole. His tee shot stopped once inch from the cup.

From then on, nobody had a shot the way Sim played all week, even though he didn't get a practice round before the tournament because his golf clubs were late arriving at the Chattanooga airport.

No worries.

After an opening 71, he literally tore up the course in round two, posting a 6-under-par 66 in which his 8-iron approach to the tenth hole tore out the front lip of the cup and rattled in for an eagle two. After an unsuccessful attempt to repair the cup, SGA officials made the rare decision to move the hole a few feet in mid-round. University of North Carolina sophomore Reed Darcie was two back after 36 holes. Among the 36-hole cut survivors was the youngest player in the fiend, Sam Saunders, the 16-year-old grandson of golfing great Arnold Palmer.

Sim's third-round 70 widened his lead to four over Levin and Kuehne, setting the stage for the final lap. "I knew if I kept playing the way I'd been playing," Sim said, "somebody would have to shoot 64 or 65 (in the final round) to beat me."

After Kuehne's collapse, Sim's only concern was Levin.

"Spence really could've shot in the really low 60s today," Sim said. "I don't even know if he missed a green. If he holed some putts, I believe he could've shot 59."

Levin shrugged his shoulders at that remark and shook his head. "Well, I hit it in the fairway pretty much all day," he said. "I was still making pars, even though I wasn't hitting putts."

Sim cushioned his lead with a birdie on No. 10 to go up by seven. Though he
bogeyed two holes on the back nine, the tournament was already in hand. His first U.S. win tops a resume that already includes a fifth-place finish at the Sunnehanna, a seventh at the Dogwood Invitational and a third at the Sahalee Junior during the summer.

Along with the trophy, Sim was extended an invitation to the PGA Tour's Bay Hill Invitational next March. "I'll definitely be coming across for that," he said. "That'll be a really good experience to play with world-class players."

After signing an autograph and talking to reporters, Sim went to the clubhouse to call his parents. Susan Sim answered the phone at 2:30 a.m. Australian time Sunday.

"She was tired," Sim said with a smile. "But she was rapt.

"No worries."


Complete results:

Michael Sim, NSW Australia 71-66-70-71--278
Spencer Levin, Elk Grove, Calif. 73-69-69-70--281
Andrew Black, Chattanooga, Tenn. 67-76-71-69--283
David Noll, Dalton, Ga. 72-72-69-71--284
Ryan Posey, Dallas, Texas 71-73-68-73--285
Rick Honeycutt, Chattanooga, Tenn. 70-74-72-69--285
Lee Williams, Alexander City, Ala. 73-71-69-72--285
Mark Blakefield, Maysville, Ky. 74-72-69-71--286
Ryan Blaum, Miami, Fla. 73-76-72-66--287
Alex Hamilton, Aiken, S.C. 73-73-69-72--287
Trip Kuehne, Irving, Texas 71-73-67-76--287
Jake Thompson, Greenville, S.C. 71-73-71-72--287
John-Scott Rattan, Montgomery Village, Md. 74-70-75-69--288
Jonathan Fricke, Covington, Ga. 71-80-68-69--288
Kyle Coody, Plano, Texas 74-72-71-71--288
Webb Simpson, Raleigh, N.C. 72-75-75-67--289
Reed Darsie, Chapel Hill, N.C. 70-69-77-74--290
Roberto Castro, Alpharetta, Ga. 74-76-75-67--292
Michael Feuerstein, La Jolla, Calif. 76-75-71-70--292
Chris Gilliland, Chattanooga, Tenn. 75-73-71-73--292
Thomas Hagler, Augusta, Ga. 72-73-71-76--292
Brice Bailey, Germantown, Tenn. 74-77-70-72--293
Ryan Baca, Richmond, Texas 74-67-77-75--293
Peter Malnati, Dandridge, Tenn. 77-74-72-71--294
Michael Barbosa, St. Petersburg, Fla. 73-75-75-71--294
Marco Poccia, Gansevoort, N.Y. 75-74-69-76--294
Clint Provost, Gulf Breeze, Fla. 75-76-72-72--295
Heath West, Dothan, Ala. 69-74-76-76--295
Will Swift, Birmingham, Ala. 75-74-73-73--295
Drew Laning, Little Rock, Ark. 75-73-75-73--296
Joe Deraney, Starkville, Miss. 74-73-75-74--296
Greg Pieczynski, Kingston, Pa. 70-75-74-77--296
Colton Turnquist, Austin, Texas 76-76-68-76--296
Judd Easterling, Dixon, Mo. 73-76-76-72--297
Daniel Klauer, Granger, Ind. 75-71-77-74--297
Matthew Brock, Lewisburg, Tenn. 72-73-79-73--297
Derek O'Neill, Lone Tree, Colo. 74-72-80-72--298
Mitchell Brown, NSW Australia 73-76-75-74--298
Daniel McGurk, Spring, Texas 72-74-77-75--298
Beck Troutman, Fernwood, Miss. 76-74-72-76--298
Ryan Kornmann, Beaumont, Texas 81-71-75-72--299
Kevin Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio 73-74-76-76--299
J.J. Killeen, Lubbock, Texas 79-71-75-75--300
Jordan Dempsey, Canton, Ga. 77-74-78-71--300
Zack Robinson, Stillwater, Okla. 75-76-74-75--300
Josh Coley, Ooltewah, Tenn. 74-74-74-78--300
Jesse Schulte, Wichita, Kan. 73-77-74-76--300
Matt McLaughlin, Raleigh, N.C. 75-74-81-71--301
Kevin Chappell, Fresno, Calif. 76-74-80-71--301
Marc Campbell, Southlake, Texas 75-77-72-77--301
Adam Mitchell, Chattanooga, Tenn. 72-72-81-76--301
Jack Allara, Salem, Va. 76-71-76-78--301
B. K. Suhr, Windermere, Fla. 77-73-80-72--302
Dalton Melnyk, St. Simons Island, Ga. 76-74-72-80--302
Buck Williams, Raleigh, N.C. 70-75-78-79--302
David Schultz, Richardson, Texas 71-79-79-74--303
Patton Kizzire, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 78-73-79-73--303
Michael Smith, Lafayette, La. 76-75-77-76--304
Sam Saunders, Windermere, Fla. 74-77-78-75--304
Johnathan Shaw, Cartersville, Ga. 75-77-76-76--304
Kevin Schultz, Richardson, Texas 76-73-80-77--306
Brian Norman, Henderson, Ky. 76-74-77-79--306
Brady Schnell, Bettendorf, Iowa 77-71-77-82--307
Tucker Ervin, Mount Pleasant, S.C. 75-75-81-77--308
Beau Glover, Sherwood, Ark. 77-75-76-81--309
Scott Campbell, Atlanta, Ga. 77-72-77-83--309
Bo Burdette, Lagrange, Ga. 73-76-82-80--311
Tommy Murray, Orange Park, Fla. 75-77-84-79--315
Jacob Davis, Deland, Fla. 73-79-85-80--317

Failed to make cut:

Sam MacNaughton, Edmond, Okla. 77-76--153
Rob Beasley, Greensboro, N.C. 74-79--153
Andrew Pratt, Bartlett, Tenn. 76-77--153
Scott Abbott, Dallas, Texas 78-75--153
Talbert Griffin, Birmingham, Ala. 77-76--153
Philip Pettitt, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 73-80--153
Mark Ogren, Daphne, Ala. 74-79--153
Bryce Ledford, Ooltewah, Tenn. 76-77--153
Matthew Myers, Auburn, Ala. 80-74--154
Andrew Medley, Athens, Ala. 77-77--154
Scot Ploucha, Johnson City, Tenn. 80-74--154
Jeremy Hobson, Thonotosassa, Fla. 76-78--154
Joe Green, Duluth, Ga. 78-76--154
Bob Kearney, Houston, Texas 78-76--154
Jason Lindgren, Denton, Texas 77-77--154
Matt Hughes, Dalton, Ga. 80-74--154
Brandon Kuban, Newnan, Ga. 77-78--155
Garrett Osborn, Birmingham, Ala. 80-75--155
Eric Rose, Knoxville, Tenn. 79-76--155
Jack Hall, Macon, Ga. 75-80--155
Steven Hudson, Birmingham, Ala. 79-76--155
Trey Todd, Abilene, Texas 79-76--155
Jeff Knox, Augusta, Ga. 80-75--155
Steve Johnson, Signal Mountain, Tenn. 79-76--155
Jacob Collinsworth, Fairhope, Ala. 73-82--155
Christian Raynor, Kennesaw, Ga. 73-82--155
John Minor, Dandridge, Tenn. 75-80--155
Jonathan Dismuke, Auburn, Ala. 74-81--155
Jonathan Cox, Lake City, Tenn. 81-75--156
Jarrod Gardner, Cedar Park, Texas 81-75--156
Brandon Stengel, Kennesaw, Ga. 79-77--156
Nick Bailes, Cleveland, Tenn. 81-75--156
Bowen Sargent, Knoxville, Tenn. 81-75--156
Jason Sigler, Lawrence, Kan. 79-77--156
Wesley Williams, Franklin, Tenn. 79-77--156
Butler Melnyk, St. Simons Island, Ga. 79-77--156
Matthew Berzovich, Longwood, Fla. 75-81--156
Kyle Ellis, Senatobia, Miss. 72-84--156
Brett Lederer, Lakewood, Calif. 82-75--157
Randy Donahoo, Woodstock, Ga. 80-77--157
Kellen Altman, Conway, S.C. 78-79--157
Hunter Bendall, Richmond, Va. 78-79--157
Lance Walker, Birmingham, Ala. 77-80--157
Russell Helson, Georgetown, Texas 77-80--157
Alex Tarumianz, Lookout Mtn. Tenn. 78-79--157
Matt Mincer, Lenoir City, Tenn. 84-74--158
Clarke Rheney, Houston, Texas 79-79--158
John Saari, Lilburn, Ga. 83-75--158
James Nitties, NSW Australia 80-78--158
Brandon Aydlett, Monroe, La. 79-79--158
Sam Korbe, Springdale, Ark. 77-81--158
Scott Murray, Jacksonville, Fla. 79-79--158
Drew Pigg, Plano, Texas 79-79--158
Derek Fathauer, Jensen Beach, Fla. 79-80--159
Jeff Riemann, Baton Rouge, La. 78-81--159
Pat Collogan, Ponca City, Okla. 76-83--159
Michael Daniels, Decatur, Ala. 75-84--159
Jared Jones, Kenova, W.Va. 78-82--160
Matthew King, Knoxville, Tenn. 77-83--160
Scott Vick, Franklin, Tenn. 78-82--160
David Viviano, Lafayette, La. 76-84--160
Tony Rigas, Dallas, Texas 78-82--160
Josh Nelms, Hixson, Tenn. 76-84--160
Richard Lowe, Johnson City, Tenn. 81-80--161
Kyle Roberts, Waco, Texas 85-76--161
Anthony Estorga, Fort Worth, Texas 80-81--161
Mike Moore, Hendersonville, Tenn. 81-80--161
Jim Lehman, Plymouth, Minn. 81-80--161
Carl Hays, Walton, Ky. 79-82--161
Jeremy Frye, Palestine, Texas 81-80--161
Aaron Smith, Gulfport, Miss. 86-76--162
Danny Dennis, Collierville, Tenn. 78-84--162
Justin Miers, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 85-77--162
Anthony Imburgia, Effingham, Ill. 83-79--162
Ross Freeman, Garland, Texas 81-81--162
Tim Schaetzel, Atlanta, Ga. 80-82--162
Ivan Brannan, Panama City, Fla. 80-82--162
Ross Cox, Knoxville, Tenn. 85-78--163
Richard Keene, Chattanooga, Tenn. 82-81--163
John Wright, Elmhurst, Ill. 82-82--164
Andre Metzger, Norman, Okla. 82-82--164
Jerre Maynor, Nashville, Tenn. 76-88--164
Greg Rodgers, Phoenix, Md. 77-88--165
Mark DeLaune, Orange Grove, Texas 79-86--165
Peyton Gallagher, Charlotte, N.C. 83-82--165
Evan Nash, Rowlett, Texas 79-86--165
Mark Brown, West Palm Beach, Fla. 78-88--166
Taylor Hall, Lagrange, Ga. 84-83--167
Patrick Drummond, Birmingham, Ala. 85-83--168
Brandon Davis, Port Saint Lucie, Fla. 83-87--170
Creighton Honeck, Austin, Texas 86-86--172