Dispelling Any Doubts

Hofstatter (left) and Kim are playing well, but Webb is the new center of attention.

From that point on, Webb took advantage of virtually every chance at the table. She canned two more long combinations, then ran out after a Kim miss and from her own break to tie the match, 4-4. After the pair traded runouts from the break, Kim came up empty on her break in the 11th game. It would prove to be her last trip to the table. Webb carefully negotiated each of the final two racks to earn a 7-5 win and her second straight Classic Tour title.

"It felt a little different than my first title," Webb said of her winning moment. "There was less pressure here. This time was more fun. I got to enjoy this one."

What made Webb's San Diego win all the more gratifying was the fact that, since the WPBA starts each year with a clean points slate, she now owns the tour's No. 1 ranking and will have the top seeding in the next event. (The WPBA uses a four-tournament cycle to assign seeding.)

"Getting to be No. 1 completes all the dreams I had for myself in pool," she admitted. "And it's all happened in four months!"

And, as she did after winning her first title, Webb planned to treat herself with a trip to New York City to celebrate with her longtime sponsor, Mr. T. Soon after, however, Webb vowed to be back at the practice table.

"This tour is so competitive right now," Webb gushed, almost excited by the challenges that lay ahead. "Everyone's game has come up. Everyone is working out, eating right, practicing more.

"And the tables are playing great. We're not changing the cloth for TV. All the girls are able to let their strokes out -- spinning the cue ball and banking with confidence.

"I love it!"

And unbeaten in the last two tournaments. What's not to love?

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