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Emily Johnson thought a hole-in-one would be easy.
Maybe she was right because all the 9-year-old did was go out and ace the No. 3 hole at Raccoon Run July 31.
It doesn't end there. Johnson may be the youngest female to accomplish the golf rarity. According to the 1998 Guinness Book World Of Records, the youngest before was a 10-year-old girl from Australia. Tom Johnson, Emily's father, has faxed in the information to Guinness and is waiting for an answer.
"I wasn't too surprised because she hits the ball awfully well for a 9-year-old," Tom said. "She is a very confident player. In her mind, she didn't realize how tough it is to get a hole-in-one. She thought it probably would happen."
Thought it would happen, but this soon?
Emily would talk to her friends about getting a hole-in-one.
"Some of my golfing friends said it is not going to happen," she said.
Emily aced the 121-yard hole with a 5-iron with Jacob Wilson, Clint Johnson and Paul Lofquist watching. The ball landed on the fringe and rolled into the hole, which was in the middle right side of the green.
"It was on the fringe, and it rolled in," Emily said.
And Emily's reaction?
"I was jumping up and down," Emily said. "I was shocked because my brother hadn't got a hole-in-one before, and he is better than me."
A few weeks ago, a 5-year-old boy from southern Indiana became the youngest player boy to ace a regulation hole, and afterward, he was beseiged by the media. Emily hasn't gotten that yet, but has heard plenty from friends and family.
"I have heard a lot," Emily said. "People have been saying congratulations and asking me if I was the girl that got the hole-in-one."
Tom, who turned 50 this year, just got his first ace after golfing since he was five years old. On that day, Clint was also watching.
"There is a little bit of luck involved in every hole-in-one, but being good helps," Tom said. "You get more chances the better you are."
Emily, who usually shoots in the 40s for nine holes, has been golfing for six years and plays regularly on the state junior golf tour.
"We were traveling in the van, and the kids had the (Guinness) book out, and it says the girl was 10 years and so many months, and we said, 'Emily you have until next March to break that.' We get home from vacation and three days later, she hits one," Emily's mother, Deb, said.
Emily turned 9 in January, which puts her at 9 years, 6 months and 14 days when she got her ace.
IGA Senior Amateur Championship
Warsaw's Jerry Nelson finished in fifth place at the IGA-PGA Senior Amateur Championship at Wildcat Creek Aug. 10-11.
Nelson shot rounds of 72 and 77 to finish at 5-over par and five strokes behind winner Bill Grant Jr. of Kokomo.
Also playing were Warsaw's Ray Harroff (81-81, 162) and Warsaw's Jay Shively (89-85, 174).
Ping/Pepsi Tourney Series
Sycamore pro Quinn Griffing finished in a tie for second place at the Ping/Pepsi Tournament Series No. 2 event at the Hawthorns in Fishers Aug. 10.
Griffing shot a 2-under par 70 to finished two strokes behind winner Scott Steger of Pebble Brook.
Also in the event were: Sycamore assistant pro Todd Sandow (74), Raccoon Run pro Denny Hepler (75), Stonehenge pro Dave Schumaker (78), Tippecanoe Lake assistant pro Doug Vance (82).
Ladies Mid-Amateur Championship
Warsaw's Chris LaLonde 12th place in the championship flight of the 1998 Indiana Women's Golf Association Ladies Mid-Amateur Championship at Greenfield Country Club Aug. 3-4.
LaLonde shot rounds of 82 and 88 to finish with a 170 total. Carmel's Liz Gehl won the event with a 148 (74-74) total.
IGA-PGA Assistant's Championship
Rozella Ford's Randy Cesco finished in 43rd place in the 1998 IGA-PGA Assistant's Championship at Harrison Hills Country Club Aug. 3-4.
Cesco had rounds of 78, 78 and 80 to finish at 234, 18-over par. Alan Schulte of Hillcrest Country Club won with a 208 (69, 69, 70) total.
Other Holes-In-One
Jimmy Harrison - Harrison aced the No. 3 130-yard hole at Raccoon Run Aug. 13 with a 6-iron. Witnessing were Byron Harting and Tex Sellers.
