Emery Johnson’s uniform number is four for Team Utah in the PGA Jr. League National Championship but he’s No. 1 in our hearts after recording an ace on Friday with a 6-iron from 132 yards in the 2024 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch West in Frisco, Texas.
Twelve All-Star teams of 96 junior golfers ages 10-13 have trekked to the home of the PGA of America to compete for the Championship title, broadcast live on ESPN platforms.
Johnson’s tee shot at the par-3, fifth flew straight into the hole for the slam-dunk ace and his reaction was priceless. Or shall we say disbelief. The 12-year-old put his right hand on his head as if to say, “Did it do what I think it did? No way…Oh, man, I think it did.”
Jraice Finau, the son of PGA Tour star Tony Finau, was standing behind his teammate on the tee and started the celebration, which soon included Tony too. (We previously told you about Finau’s role as an assistant coach of the Utah team here.)
“I’ve never had a hole in one before,” Johnson told ESPN. “The wind was into us so I clubbed up a little and hit a little draw in there. I knew I hit it good, but I heard it hit the pin and I couldn’t see it. I saw my other teammates on the next hole and they ran toward me. Jraice [Finau] picked me up and everyone was giving me high fives.”
“I was really surprised,” said Jraice Finau, 12. “I thought it hit the cameraman behind. It ended up being perfect. It was instinct to pick him up like that.”
Johnson’s teammates came rushing over from the next tee to congratulate their teammate.
“To have your first hole in one on ESPN? Come on, now. That’s what dreams are made of,” Tony Finau said. “He deserves all the hype he gets for that.”
Let’s just call it the shot of the day and you can check it out for yourself here:
ACE ALERT
Emery Johnson from Team Utah with the SLAM DUNK from 132 yards!
#PGAJrLeague | @UtahSectionPGA pic.twitter.com/E7NUKFYdBD
— PGA Jr. League (@PGAJrLeague) October 11, 2024