JACKSON YOUTH GETS HOLE-IN-ONE

Eric Fraley may not ever turn out to be a championship golfer -- only time will tell -- but he's already accomplished something at an extremely young age that most people go a lifetime without.

The 12-year-old Jackson resident recently shot a hole-in-one while playing at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson. He used a 7-iron to ace the 100-yard, par-3, No. 12 hole.

Area golf professionals say Eric is one of the youngest golfers they can remember recording an ace.

"It was really exciting," he said. "I was playing with a few other people and when I hit it I kind of lost it in the sun. I just saw a glare, but everybody just jumped out of the cart."

Eric, who will be a seventh grader at Jackson Middle School in the fall, said he has been playing golf about four years and tries to squeeze in rounds when he can, although other sports keep him plenty busy. He also plays soccer, baseball and football.

"Right now I'm playing on a summer baseball team but I also try to play a lot of golf," he said. "Baseball is my favorite sport, but golf is probably my second favorite. I really like it."

Eric said both his father and stepfather, who are avid golfers, got him interested in the game. And he's proven to be fairly efficient so far, with a top round of 43 for nine holes.

"I want to continue playing as much as I can and hopefully play for the high school team some day," he said.

And he added that he also wouldn't mind a few more holes-in-one in the future.