Aussie gets his wings: Sim takes Christmas tournament to win way onto PGA Tour

Sim moves up to PGA Tour with third win

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Michael Sim has played his way onto the PGA Tour.

The Australian shot a 4-under 67 Sunday to win his third Nationwide Tour event this season, taking the Christmas in October Classic by two strokes.

“It’s very relieving,” Sim said. “I’d been in this position before and I wasn’t able to get it done. I tried to stay in the moment as best I could. In Omaha I found it really difficult to stay focused on the last day. Fortunately I learned how to deal with those distractions. I did everything right today.”

Sim shared the 54-hole lead four weeks ago at the Cox Classic in Omaha, Neb., but tied for fifth.

Josh Teater’s 66 on Sunday followed a 63 the day before, but wasn’t enough to catch Sim, who had only two bogeys all weekend and none in the final 45 holes to take home $112,500.

Sim, the Nationwide money leader, won promotion to the PGA Tour for the remainder of this season and next season, the ninth golfer on the Nationwide Tour to do so.

Michael Clark II shot a 63 to take third at 16-under 268, followed a stroke back by Blake Adams (66) and one more by Chad Collins (67).

Sal Spallone (67), Hunter Haas (70) and Steve Wheatcroft (71) were all tied at 271.

Sim, who won the Stonebrae Classic in California in early April before taking the BMW Charity Pro-Am in South Carolina the following month, will have to wait to play on the PGA Tour. Due to the FedEx Cup, he can’t play for at least the next five weeks.

“I might go home to Australia or I might just keep my schedule on this Tour until it’s time for me to play one on the big Tour,” he said. “It’s a good problem to have