Keira Johnson to tee off for Pfeiffer University
Owen golfer signs with Falcons
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 10, 2023
Keira Johnson is joined by her mother, Jenny, and father, Tim, in the Owen High School media center, Jan. 9, as she signs to play golf at Pfeiffer University. Photo by Fred McCormick
One of the top NCHSAA 2A golfers in the state will tee off for Pfeiffer University, following a Jan. 9 signing ceremony at Owen High School.
Senior Keira Johnson, who resurrected the Warlassies golf program as a freshman and finished her Owen career 17th out of 78 golfers in the state championship tournament in October, was surrounded by family, friends, teammates and coaches as she made her collegiate plans official.
“It feels great,” said Johnson, who verbally committed to the Falcons program in November. “Having my family and friends here to share this moment makes it really special.”
Her decision to attend Pfeiffer was an easy one, she added.
“I really loved meeting coach and seeing the campus,” she said. “It’s a small school and an awesome environment, so it feels like a great fit for me.”
A member of the Owen Middle golf team before her 2019 arrival at the high school, Johnson became the sole golfer for the Warlassies program as a freshman, finishing the season as the runner-up for Western Highlands Conference Player of the Year honors and qualifying for the NCHSAA 1A/2A West Regional tournament.
While her sophomore season was shortened, due to COVID-19, Johnson emerged as the conference player of the year as a junior, coached by her grandfather and Owen Athletics Hall of Fame Coach Dean McElrath, and qualified for the state championship tournament.
Entering her senior campaign under her third coach in as many seasons, she developed into one of the top players in her sport.
Owen senior Keira Johnson shot a personal best, 74, in the Western Highlands Conference tournament at the Black Mountain Golf Course in October. Photo by Fred McCormick
“She is really steady off the tee and very good at hitting her second shots,” said Owen High School Athletic Hall of Fame golf coach John Knight, who returned to the program he established as Buncombe County’s first girls golf team in 1998 to coach last season. “She’s such a solid player, and she’ll be a big contributor for the Pfeiffer program.”
While Johnson was the only member of the Warlassies program for three seasons, she immediately stepped into a leadership role with the addition of teammates last season, according to Knight.
“She really enjoyed being part of a team last season,” he said. “Golf is an individual sport, but playing with the support of teammates who share the same goals enhances the experience.”
Family, friends, teammates and coaches celebrate Owen senior Keira Johnson, who signed a letter of intent to play for Pfeiffer University on Jan. 9. Photo by Fred McCormick
Johnson looks forward to joining a young Falcons program that currently features four freshmen on its roster.
“I’m excited to build relationships with my teammates and being part of program where everyone is working to improve,” she said. “I think it will be a lot of fun traveling with the team and developing my game at the next level.”