Michael Arnaud of Orange, who as a junior player in Southeast Texas wasn’t that far behind Chris Stroud, looks like he may be on the verge of a professional breakthrough. Arnaud recently finished second in the Adams Golf Pro Series Winter Tour’s point standings.

The significance of that finish is Arnaud’s consistency earned him a spot in the Adams Tour’s 2008 Island View Casino Tour Championship in Gulfport, Miss. The Oct. 15-18 event offers a $125,000 pursue, with a winner’s payoff of $25,000.

Arnaud, who is immensely talented — talented enough in this opinion to work his way up to the PGA Tour — played in 11 of the 12 Winter Tour events, made the cut in 10, finished fifth or better in five and pocketed $12,149.36 in earnings.

He twice tied for second and had ties for third, fourth and fifth. Only Ryan Baca, with 3,804.17 points, had a higher total than Arnaud’s 2959.57.

Arnaud could be taking the same route to the next level as another Orange player — Scott Sterling. Sterling was the leading money winner on the 2006 Adams Tour. He earned his PGA Tour privileges last December at Q-school.

In the final stop on the Winter Tour, which was played last week at Siena Plantation, Arnaud finished third, two shots off the pace of another familiar name. Former Lamar University golf Shawn Stefani won with a four-under-par 212 at Sienna Plantation.

Between now and the Tour Championship, Arnaud will try to build his resume and bank balance on the regular Adams Tour. A schedule of 16 tournaments, all with $100,000 pursues, kicks off March 27 at Hearthsone Country Club in Houston.

Seven of the Adams Tour stops are in Texas, with four in Louisiana, three in New Mexico, one in Oklahoma and one in Mississippi.

CHIP SHOTS: Ryan Heiselbetz of Warren took medalist honors with a 75 and Little Cypress-Mauriceville won the team championship with a 326 in the Port Neches-Groves Invitational at The Palms at Pleasure Island Monday. West Brook (334), Hardin-Jefferson (341), PN-G (344) and Warren (350) rounded out the top five. West Brook’s Jordan Soper, after shooting a 78, beat LC-M’s Zane Callier in a playoff for second place. PN-G’s scores included Trent Boudin, 84; Alexander Hanks, 89; Keegan Johnson, 91; and Stetson Woods, 113 . . . Paul Duplantis of Port Neches holed out a 90-yard wedge for an eagle 2 on the par 4 10th at Babe Zaharias. His playing companions included Tommy Trahan, Ken Cook and John Hackbarth . . . Bob Sharpless fired a net 65 to win the Monday Seniors at Belle Oaks. Macy DuBose and Norm Shannon tied for second at 68. Norm Pasche and Barry Jackson were another shot back at 69. Shannon (No. 8) and Pasche (No. 9) were closest to the hole winners . . . Joe Bennett’s net 65 won the weekly senior tournament at The Palms at Pleasure Island. John Bass and Mark Lee tied for second with 67s . . . Darryl Landry and Charlie Heider teamed for a 129 (67-62) to win First Flight in the Nederland Heritage Festival Tournament at Bayou Din. The duo of Ben Sherrod-Robert Corbello tied for second at 130. Lance Barnett-Patrick Owen won second flight with a 68-65—133. That was six shots better than the runnerup teams of Robert Hemler-Darrin Printy and Butch Strange-Mark Lee. Third Flight was won by Derek Wolf-Mark Burlison with a 76-72—148. Matt Jowett-Keith McDuffy finished second at 149. In Fourth Flight, Charlie Buteaux-Mickey Fagg won with an 82-76—158. Format for the event was best ball the first day and scramble the second . . . The Babe Zaharias Senior 65 Plus Game was played in a team point format. The team of Tommy Trahan, Paul Duplantis, Ken Cook and John Hackbarth tied for first at plus 11. Second place went to the foursome of Red Brown, Cecil Bourgeois, George Besse and John DuFour at plus one. The team of Art Lecoq, Ron Block, Guy Van Cleve and John Culbertson claimed third at zero. Closest to the pin winners were Murphy Demarcay (2 and 7), Bob Lloyd (12) and Jim Malcolm (15) . . . The Babe Zaharias DogFight was won by the team of Hilario Padia, Gary Hanan, Art Lecoq and Dave Sturgal. They finished 18&4. Second at 16&1 was the team of David Evans, Ed Hetzel, Dalvin LaGrappe, Bobby Hebert and Leonard Hendrickson . . . The team of Derek Wolf, Gary Hanan, Jeff Rinehart and Boyd Herndon won the Bayou Din DogFight at 15&6. Second at 12&2 was the foursome of Alan Sohoski, Kevin Turner, Buddy Silcox, George Thompson and Charles Huckaby . . . The Belle Oaks DogFight was won by the threesome of Richard Briggs, Doc Port and Butch Cross at 18&7. Second at 17&7 was the foursome of Bill Hatfield, Kyle Mehl, Dave English and Jeff Rinehart.

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