Five young golfers with Southeast Texas connections will be chasing their dream of a PGA Tour card at first stage qualifiers in the next couple of weeks. All of the 13 first stage events feature a field of 78 players competing over 72 holes, with 19-to-21 advancing from each location to the second stage.

Lamar ex Dawie Van Der Walt was the first to launch his bid, as he teed it up Tuesday in the qualifier at Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring. Orange’s Michael Arnaud swings into action today at Auburn University Club in Auburn, Ala.

Next week, Lamar exes Casey Clendenon and Shawn Stefani will try to move on from Lantana Country Club outside Dallas in a Tuesday through Friday qualifier. Kelly ex Anthony Broussary, meanwhile, will be playing those same days at Grass Lands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland, Fla.

Those fortunate enough to advance will have their pick of six second stage sites, including two in Texas — Deerwood Club in Kingwood and Craig Ranch in McKinney. Chris Stroud, you may remember, ran away from the field in the second stage last year at Deerwood, then went on to finish fourth in the final stage at PGA West.

Other second stage sites this year at Southern Hills Plantation in Brooksville, Fla., Oak Valley CC in Beaumont, Calif., Callway Gardens GC in Callaway Gardens, Ga. and the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, Fla. The final stage, covering 108 holes, is set for Bear Lakes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 2-7.

In addition to being a grinding test of nerves, the various stages of Q school also come with serious expense. Entry fee for the first stage is $4,500, with the tab dropping for $4,000 for the second stage and $3,500 for the final stage.

Factor in travel and lodging and going after a PGA Tour card is quite expensive

CHIP SHOTS: Randy Hefley of Lumberton will be playing future rounds with a new set of Nike irons, thanks to a hole in one at Bayou Din during the St. Anthony’s Dad’s Club Scramble. Hefley sank a 7-iron from 147 yards on No. 11 on the Bayou Back. The shot was witnessedby Hoot Gibson, Butch Strange and William O’Meara . . . The team of Arian Gonzales, Oscar Gonzales, Big ‘O’ Gonzales and Danny Gonzales carded a 59 to win the St. Charles/St. Elizabeth ACTS Scramble at Belle Oaks. Second with a 60 was the team of Greg Hunt, Ray Trahan, Anthony Concienne and Jim Brindza. Claiming the Anchor prize, after shooting 71, was the team of Roger Monarch, Darrell Sommerville, Ronnie Sommerville and Gary Cliett. Closest to the pin winners were Reed Lowrance (No. 8) and Webb Broughton (No. 15) . . . The foursome of Art Lecoq, George Hawkins, Guy Van Cleve and Paul Brown finished plus five in a team points format to win the weekly Seniors at The Babe. Second at minus minus two was the team of Larry Stansbury, Orland Defrates, Sheldon Arnaud and Tommy Linder. Placing third at minus three was the team of R.C. Russell, Cecil Bourgeois, Bill Draughon and Bob Frazier. Closest to the pin winners were Lecoq (No. 2), Larry Morris (No. 70, Hawkins (No. 12) and Larry Stansbury (No. 15) . . . Jim Brown and Rufus Mier tied for first with four points in the Monday Seniors at the Babe. Tied for third with three points were Bob Briggs and Mike Barnett. Closest to the pin winners were Dennis Neef (No. 8) and Barnett (No. 15) . . . Brown was the winner of the Friday Seniors at the Babe with three points. Neef was next with one point, followed by Norm Shannon and Mier at minus one. Closest to the pin winners were Shannon (No. 8) and Ben Fuller (No. 15) . . . There was a two-way tie for first place in the Babe Zaharias DogFight between the foursome of John Jeffrey, Dennis Shaw, Don MacNeil and Sheldon Arnaud (13&7) and the team of Mike Weatherly, Joe Landry, Gene Harrison and Ray Trahan (13&7). The group of Mike Lansford, Rick Pritchett, Ed Campbell and Don Nebel finished third at 12&4. Closest to the hole winners wre John Fong (No. 2), Bill Hanley (No. 7), Landry (No. 12) and Jeffrey (No. 15) . . . The Belle Oaks DogFight was won at 18&5 by the team of Richard Briggs, John House, Jeff Rinehart and Leonard Hendrickson. Second at 14&5 was the foursome of Allen Sohoski, Bob Briggs, Gene Harrison and Cap Hollier. Placing third at 12&0 was the team of Hilario Padia, Wayne Roccaforte, Gene Harrison and Dave Sturgall. Closest to the pin winners were Bob Briggs (No. 8) and Padia (No. 15) . . . Belle Oaks superintendent Bryan Jackson continues to have problems with an invasioin of wild hogs. Jackson has been maintaining a nightly vigil with a rifle and has four traps set. Thus far he’s killed one of the poachers and been able to prevent further damage to the golf course.

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