After winning the amateur World Championship last year, Rodney Huffman elevated his bow sights to the professional level.

A year later, the Cape Girardeau bowman can't raise his sights too much further. As hoped, Huffman did turn professional, but as he did not expect, he's wearing the title of Professional World Champion.

Huffman recently beat out 22 other professionals in Flatwoods, W.Va., to capture his third pro title of the season in compound bow competition. His 179 points out of a possible 200 beat runner-up Dennis Shrewsbury by eight points.

Archers, who all had to qualify, shot at 3-D targets at varying distances with compound bows. After shooting at 20 targets on each of the first two days, Huffman qualified fourth among the top five which advanced to the finals. Like last year, when he qualified in the final spot, he saved his best for the final.

"I won with 184 last year," said Huffman. "The degree of difficulty varies. Most people thought it was much harder than last year. The 170s were pretty respectable on the course."

The win netted $1,750 in prize money and $2,750 in sponsor's contingency money from Hoyt USA. It marked the eighth time in 12 tournaments that he finished in the top 5 and left him as the No. 2 ranked bowman by the Association of Professional Archers.

The entire year has been bit of a surprise after winning a tight amateur contest last year.

"I was surprised," said Huffman. "There are a little bit better shooters. I was hoping to just shoot well."

Huffman, who is a supervisor for Florsheim Shoes and manages the archery department for PHD Sporting Goods, has netted $16,000 in earnings in his new professional status.

"It's kind of scary starting out," said Huffman. "A lot of rookies go a the whole first year or two before they start winning. Fortunately I came out ahead."

Huffman was so successful many thought he should be the APA's Shooter of the Year, rather than the No. 2 ranked archer. Shooter of the Year went to Bill Pellingrino of Denver, which didn't sit well with many professionals. Huffman accumulated more points throughout the season, but Pellingrino was able to draw on points which carried over from last year.

In fact, the decision was so unpopular some of the professionals wrote a letter to the APA on Huffman's behalf. While Huffman didn't receive the award, he did receive a copy of the letter from peers.

"They felt I was best, which is something to be very proud of," said Huffman. "I was just a little guy coming in and they really supported me. The way the had it written was real nice."

But not getting the award at least Huffman with a goal he has yet to achieve.

"I hope to repeat a third year and win Shooter of the Year."

Other southeast Missouri hunters also fared well at the competition. Tony Whitehead of Portageville placed second in Bowhunter Limited; Kim Fowler of Portageville took fourth in Women's Finger Class; and Glen Rymen of Dexter was fourth in Recurve Unlimited.