LoopA dreary autumn day epitomised the grim outcome that befell Bermuda’s four competitors on day two of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, with none of the quartet able to go under the cut-line and make to the weekend’s money rounds.
In truth, with the projected cut set at minus six and having not had a local better two-under on day one, when soft conditions made scoring low imperative, it was always going to take a stunningly supreme effort for such to happen.
As has been so often the case, one after the other Bermuda’s offerings tried and were found wanting, though not for lack of effort.
Michael Sims, Nick Jones, Jarryd Dillas and Kim Swan each took swings at becoming the first Bermuda qualifier to make it to Saturday … each came up short.
While conditions during the first round served as an aid to softening the course, slowing the greens and making for target practice, day two was much less of a picnic, as heavier showers combined with gusting winds hindered scoring — particularly on the back nine.
First up was Swan, who was bent on making up for a dismal initial round, that left him at the wrong end of the leaderboard.
“Tomorrow I’m playing for pride!” Swan had said following Thursday’s 89 shot debacle.
And the former European Tour professional was true to his word, as he bettered his previous mark by eight strokes, carding an 81, for a two-round total of 152, 28 shots over par.
“To be honest, my short game wasn’t what it needed to be,” said Swan. “I was very tentative and the first five holes I took three and four to get down, which is not acceptable.
“But it is what it is. I hung in there.”
Perenially the Island’s best hope, Sims had a roller coaster day two, with an abundance of birdies (six), combined with a near equal amount of bogeys (five), which made for an exciting boom or bust round, but not enough to bother the cut-line.
The former Korn Ferry Tour player carded a one-under-par 70 on the day to end up one-over-par overall.
“I played well today, but I just made some silly errors that cost me,” said Sims after his round. “Yesterday I went home and thought about things a little bit.
“I was tentative on some putts and my goal today was just to be a little more aggressive putting.
“I’m not playing that much competitive golf any more, so I’m pleased with the way I played today. Today I could have gone lower. I had a lot of good things going.”
Of the others Jones was unable to match his even par score of a day previous, blowing up to five-over-par 76, while Dillas currently at five-over-par will have to complete his round tomorrow, after electing to stop play due to bad light.
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