For Caroline Larsson, Ulrika Ljungman-Smith and Sophie Andersson, it’s all about chasing a dream. This week, the chase takes them to Lafayette via New Iberia for the $85,000 Louisiana Pelican Classic held at The Wetlands Golf Course in Lafayette.

The New Iberia part comes courtesy of Roy Holleman, who is hosting the golfing trio from Sweden in his home this week while they compete in the golf tournament.

After the first two rounds of the tournament on Friday and Saturday, Larsson and Andersson are within hailing distance of the lead. Larsson is eight shots back of leader Vicky Hurst while Andersson is 10 shots back. Ljungman-Smith didn’t make the cut for today’s final round.

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Today’s final round at the Wetlands starts at 8 a.m. and closes with the awards ceremony at around 5 p.m. Andersson will start her final round at 11:30 a.m. while Larsson will begin at 11:50 a.m.

Trying to get on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour is what drives the trio and the way to the Tour card starts with the Duramed FUTURES Tour, where the Swedes currently ply their trade.

The three started playing golf in their native Sweden at a young age and found it was something they enjoyed.

“My dad played and I went out with him just for company and I said that I wanted to whack a few,” said Ljungman-Smith, from Stockholm. “I’ve been whacking ever since.”

“I’ve grown up with it my entire life,” said Larsson, also from Stockholm. “My family played. I have an older brother and both my parents played.”

According to the three, golf is very popular in Sweden.

“It is actually really popular,” said Larsson. “Unlike most people think, it’s not snow packed six months of the year in Sweden

“I don’t know what the numbers are but it’s like 600,000 golfers in a population of nine million,” added Andersson. “Everyone can play pretty much. You have a lot of juniors classes in golf and if you don’t have clubs you can show up and they’ll give you a set of clubs to play with.

“It’s cheaper and it’s more accessable there.”

Larsson played collegiately on a golf scholarship at Florida State. Ljungman-Smith played at Daytona Beach Community College then transferred to Rollins College in Orlando, Fla. Andersson started at Mississippi State then transfered to University of California at Berkeley.

Now, all three are hoping to get tour cards and make a career on the LPGA Tour.

“After high school in Sweden you either have to turn pro or go to the States and study because you can’t stay in Sweden and go to university and play golf at the same time,” said Andersson. “We don’t have athletic teams at schools like they do here.

“This is a great option to actually get a degree and at the same time play golf.”

After college, the trio decided to take a shot at prefessional golf.

Larsson turned pro in the summer of 2006, Andersson turned pro in 2007 and Ljungman-Smith turned pro in 2007 but didn’t start playing professionally until this year.

All started on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this year.

“The best way to go to get to the LPGA is to go through the FUTURES Tour,” said Larsson.

There are about 300 women on the FUTURES Tour trying to be one of the top five money winners to get a guaranteed spot on the LPGA Tour.

“The hardest part is the business of the tour. You’re trying to make a living out of it,” said Andersson. “The travel to the different places in the interesting part.”

And coming to events like the Louisiana Pelican Classic is one of the joys of being on the tour.

“The hospitality is great,” said Larsson. “All the people are really nice.”

“We feel very welcome down here,” said Andersson.