ROCKPORT – Amateur Michael Sims of Bermuda snapped the competitive course record Wednesday at Samoset Resort Golf Club to jump into contention in the New England Open golf tournament.

Sims fired a 6-under-par 64 to snap the current competitive course record, ironically the 65 posted by tournament leader Brian Quinn of Philadelphia in Tuesday’s opening round, to go with a first-round 72 for a two-day total of 136.

Quinn turned in a 2-under-par 68 Wednesday for 133, three strokes better than Sims and Greater Bangor Open champion Jim Salinetti of Lee, Mass.

Salinetti, Sims’ teammate for three years at the University of Rhode Island, followed up his opening-round 67 with a 69 for his 136.

Defending champion Billy Downes of Hampden, Mass., and Rich Parker of Lebanon, N.H., are tied for fourth at 137. Downes shot a 71 Wednesday, Parker a 70 with a double bogey on the last hole.

Tim Angis (70 Wednesday) of Biddeford, Joe Cioe (68) of West Dover, Vt., and Geoff Sisk (67) of Marshfield, Mass., are tied for sixth at 138. Bangor Municipal Golf Course assistant pro Mike Baker (71) heads a large contingent at 139.

The cut for today’s 18-hole run at the $9,000 first prize came at 150.

Quinn wasn’t disturbed he lost the course record; he didn’t even know he held it until after he lost it.

“That’s a great round of golf,” Quinn said. “That round was fantastic.”

Sims said, “That’s my third course record this year.”

He posted a 62 at Mid-Ocean in Bermuda and a 63 at Belfair in Hilton Head, S.C.

After a 6-over-par 40 for his first nine holes Tuesday, Sims has been a scoring machine.

He finished with a 4-under-par 32 Tuesday, added a 3-under-par 31 to start Wednesday, and came home in 3-under 33.

“I started hitting the ball better on the back nine [Tuesday],” said the 22-year-old Sims. “I started making putts. I was rolling the ball better.”

Also, he was having to shake the rust off his game.

“I hadn’t played since the [U.S.] Amateur [more than two weeks earlier]. I had just been practicing,” said Sims.

He also has two victories under his belt – the Players Amateur in South Carolina and the North-South Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C. – so he knows how to win.

Sims made his first birdie on the par-5 fourth hole, a dogleg left which many of the pros are shortening by hitting their tee shots over a piece of Penobscot Bay.

“I only had a wedge in,” said Sims, who didn’t make it easy on himself because he missed the green. “I got up and down from the front right bunker.”

He added birdies on Nos. 5 and 7 for his 31, then opened the back with two more birdies.

Sims suffered his only bogey on 12, then birdied 14 and 15. He parred in for 33.

Salinetti birdied four, bogeyed five, and birdied six on the front, then bogeyed 12 and birdied 14 on the back for 69.

Quinn said, “I didn’t feel great around the greens.”

He felt better other places, though, such as 12, a tough par 5 with out-of-bounds on both sides approaching the green.

“I had 245 [yards] to the middle of the green,” he said.

He knew it wasn’t the smart play, but he wanted to reach it in two so he could go for the eagle.

“It’s not a shot many caddies would recommend,” he said. His shot went right at the pin, but rolled 30 feet past. He two-putted for birdie.

He was even luckier on 15, the par 4 along the water.

He pulled his approach shot left of the green, then mis-hit his chip, which was running hard when it hit the pin and dropped in.

“I screwed up two real easy shots in a row and walked off with a birdie,” said Quinn, laughing.

Quinn just has one request for today’s round.

“I hope we all shoot well,” he said. “I just hope I shoot better.”