Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Webb looks for happy ending to 1998 season at Desert Inn

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998 | 11:14 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand's golf notebook appears Wednesday. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Karrie Webb has won two LPGA Tour tournaments this season, finished in the top 10 in 10 others and is fifth on the money list with more than $600,000.

For most players, that would be a banner season.

For Webb, it's a disappointment.

"Sometimes I think I'm too hard on myself," Webb said. "I am a very goal-oriented person and after two great years, I was pushing myself to improve.

"But it's not very easy to achieve the same things after a great year. I have to keep reminding myself that I should be happy to be among the top money winners without having played my best golf."

Webb, who is competing in this week's PageNet LPGA Tour Championship at the Desert Inn, won the inaugural Tour Championship in 1996 and became the first player in LPGA Tour history to surpass the $1 million mark in single season earnings.

Webb followed her sensational rookie season with three wins, $987,606 in earnings and was the Vare Trophy (low scoring average) winner in 1997.

The 23-year-old Australian said she is looking forward to ending the season on a high note at what she called one of her favorite tour stops.

"Getting into this tournament is a reward for having a great year," Webb said. "Once you're in, it's an extra bonus to play well.

"I think it helps that I have won on this course. I just love the Desert Inn ... the course is one of the best courses that we play all year and for it to be our last tournament makes it that much better."

Eggeling back in

After getting bumped out of the top 30 in earnings and a spot in this week's Tour Championship field during the final week of the regular season, Dale Eggeling is in Las Vegas this week after all.

Eggeling finished 31st on the money list but got into the Tour Championship when Tammie Green, who finished 21st, had to withdraw because of her pregancy.

Green is expecting her first child in December.

LPGA Fan Village

The LPGA Fan Village, a 2,400-square-foot informational and interactive center, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday during the Tour Championship at the Desert Inn.

Among the attractions at the Fan Village will be player autograph sessions, video golf-swing analysis, putting contests, golf rules and instruction seminars and live radio and television broadcasts of the Tour Championship.

Gillette Challenge results

The team of Dottie Pepper and Danielle Ammaccapane won Tuesday's five-hole Gillette Tour Challenge and split $8,000 at the Desert Inn Golf Club with a score of even par.

The pairings of Donna Andrews and Lorie Kane, Brandie Burton and Meg Mallon and Juli Inkster and Laura Davies finished in a three-way tie for second place at 1 over par.

Se Ri Pak and Sherri Steinhauer, who triple-bogeyed the par-3 16th hole after Pak hit her tee shot into the fronting lake, finished at 4 over par.

The Gillette Tour Challenge is an exhibition that features five two-player teams competing in a alternate-shot format.

Chip shots

Michael Thompson of Las Vegas recently recorded his first hole in one during the 25th annual Bernie Buckley Memorial Golf Tournament at the Boulder City Golf Course. Thompson aced the par-3 fourth hole and won $5,000 and a new driver, then donated $500 back to the tournament. ... Nicole Tassone won the low gross division and Kay Medrano took honors in the low net division Sunday at the Badlands Women's Golf Association club championship at The Badlands Golf Club. ... A limited number of tickets are on sale for the 1999 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Northern California. Call 1-877-473-2253 for ticket information.