Michael Sim showed on Thursday why he's the Nationwide Tour's leading money winner.
Sim birdied eight holes in a row en route to an eight-under 64 and the first- round lead at the Nationwide Tour Championship.
This season-ending tournament is reserved for the top 60 players on the money list. Two players aren't in the field, but the leading money winner heading into this week played like it on Thursday.
"It was a freaky day really," said Sim, who established a new course record at Ralston Creek Course at the Daniel Island Club.
Sim is already a member of the PGA Tour thanks to the automatic promotion he received for three tour wins this season. There is much to be gained from finishing atop the Nationwide Tour money list. That person receives a full exemption to the PGA Tour next year and a spot in the field at The Players Championship.
There is plenty for the rest of the field to play for as well. The top 25 players on the money list get their PGA Tour cards for 2010.
Andrew Buckle, currently 27th on the money list, and Justin Bolli, No. 11, are knotted in second place at five-under 67.
D.J. Brigman and Adam Bland, both outside the top 25, share fourth place at minus-four.
Sim bogeyed his second hole on Thursday, but started his birdie run at the par-three fourth. Several came from short range, but the longer ones started to fall at the eighth.
At the par-four hole, Sim ran home an 18-footer for his fifth birdie in a row. On the par-three ninth, the Australian drained a 15-footer, then followed with a 20-footer at No. 10.
Sim reached the par-five 11th in two and narrowly missed his long eagle try. He tapped in for his eighth consecutive birdie and if he could get a birdie at the par-three 12th, he'd match Omar Uresti's tour record for consecutive birdies.
Sim had a decent look at birdie at 12, but his putt just missed the hole. He missed a chance at Nationwide Tour history, but settled for the lead in the championship.
"I looked up at the leaderboard and see myself at seven-under through 11," said Sim. "I was kind of in the zone."
Sim missed the green at 13 and made bogey, but got the stroke back with a birdie at 14. He parred his next three, then got up and down from off the green for a birdie at the par-five 18th to get his 64.
Chad Collins, Derek Lamely and Blake Adams -- all in the top four on the money list -- are knotted in sixth place with Mathias Gronberg, Patrick Sheehan, Steve Wheatcroft, Chris Baryla, Josh Teater and Cameron Percy at three-under 69.
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