Michael Sim has moved his way into contention at the Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open despite an unusual day on course.

Firing 2-under 70 around Royal Perth Golf Club this morning, Sim is second on the leaderboard after some excellent short game play.

“I made a few birdies from the wrong fairways actually. I was hitting mostly to the right today, I signed for 70, but it could have been a lot more,” said Sim.

“On 17, I hit from the wrong fairway, to about three feet. So I think I had about four tap in birdies from some nice wedge play.

While local knowledge is usually a big advantage at Royal Perth the differing wind conditions made it hard for the West Australian to get his bearings.

“It was really tricky out there. Only one hole played down wind, the 4^th, probably the only hole you don’t need it to be.

“The whole golf course was cross wind, either off the left or right so it was really tricky out there and some of the pin positions were tricky with the wind.

“Normally when I play here with the guys in the afternoon the wind will be south-west so I know the course with that wind really well but aiming down the other side of the fairway was a bit unusual.”

Sim is in an excellent position heading into the weekend however overnight leader Stephen Leaney is now on course.

“The wind has died of a bit this afternoon, if Stephen shoots another low round he might be hard to catch,” added Sim.

“I need to straighten a few things out if I want to contend on the weekend.”

Oliver Goss fired 3-under 69 in front of family and friends to move his way up the leaderboard.

“I had four birdies and one bogey; it was really nice to have another solid round after yesterday so I am hopefully right in there after the two days,” said Goss.

“It was especially nice because I had a lot of friends and family out there today which was really cool for them to see me play.

“I haven’t seen them in a long time and they haven’t seen me play in a long time so it really meant a lot to have a good day.”

I need to staighten a few things out, I hit my driver to the right pretty much all day. You can get away with it here at Royal Perth, with most fairways going up and back.

With the cross breeze it was really difficult to start the ball down certain sides of the fairway. It is pretty narrow out there, they have put some new bunkers.