LOUISVILLE, KY (May 9, 2023) – The family of Justin Thomas has selected Isabella Christy and Reed Richey as the recipients of the 2023 Justin Thomas Grant. Designed to provide financial assistance to golfers whose records have proven they have potential to play at a collegiate level, this opportunity from the Thomas family and Kentucky Golf Foundation enables the recipients to play a more robust tournament schedule across the country to help them gain more exposure in leading to a college golf scholarship. The Christy and Richey families will each receive $3,000 as the recipients of this year’s grant.

Isabella Christy, from Paintsville, Kentucky, only took one year from learning how to swing a golf club for the first time to winning her first tournament before she entered sixth grade. Christy continues to win with eleven top-five finishes in her 2022 high school season including four first place victories. Isabella is making statements in Kentucky golf with top ten finishes in the Kentucky Girls Junior PGA Championship, the AJGA-Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior presented by Encova Insurance Qualifier, and placing third in the 43rd Kentucky Girls Junior Amateur with a two-over, 146. With her continued success on the golf course, Christy has received many accolades including the Regional Player of the Year and All-Area Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and the All-State First Team and Paintsville High School Female Player of the Year in 2022. With the help of the Justin Thomas Grant, Christy is wanting to play in national tournaments so she can pursue her dream of playing collegiate and professional golf in the coming years.

“I would like to thank the committee for choosing me as this year’s Justin Thomas Grant recipient. I’m grateful and happy beyond words. It’s truly an honor. This summer with the grant, I’m hoping to qualify and play in AJGA events, girls Junior PGA championship, USGA girls’ championship, Golfweek tournaments, Kentucky Junior golf tournaments, and high school tournaments.  I will continue to work hard and pursue my dreams.  Thank you to all the sponsors for your generous donations. This little girl who moved all the way here from a small island on the other side of the Pacific Ocean to play golf will be forever thankful.” -Isabella Christy

Reed Richey is another outstanding player with a bright future ahead of him in competitive golf. The high school junior and 2022 Super Preps South Central Kentucky Golfer of the Year has had fourteen top-five finishes in his 2021 and 2022 season. Richey had a very strong 2022 summer and high school season with being the youngest player to make the cut at the Kentucky State Amatuer and tying for eighth at the US Junior Amatuer Qualifier shooting a one-over, 73. Richey continues to dominate the field with seven rounds under-par in his high school season that included three victories and two runner-up trophies. Since Richey was a young golfer, all he dreamed of was playing collegiate golf and competing against top talent around the country. With the help of the Justin Thomas Grant, that dream will now become a reality. Richey plans to travel more and represent the state of Kentucky while he takes his game to the next level. 

“I am incredibly grateful and humbled to have received the 2023 Justin Thomas Grant.  It will provide me with an invaluable opportunity to play golf at the national level and will help me take another step forward into making my dreams of playing college golf a reality.” -Reed Richey

The Kentucky Golf Foundation congratulates Isabella and Reed along with each of their families on receiving the Justin Thomas Grant. In addition, the KGF extends its appreciation towards the Thomas family for continuing to impact Kentucky Junior Golf through support of this grant.

About the Kentucky Golf Foundation:
The Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF) is one of the three organizations encompassed under Golf House Kentucky, in addition to the Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) and Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA). The KGF is a joint-initiative of the KGA and KPGA that was founded in 2002 to enhance lives through golf throughout the Commonwealth. The KGF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

About Kentucky Junior Golf:
Kentucky Junior Golf is part of the Kentucky Golf Foundation, one of three organizations that comprises Golf House Kentucky. Kentucky Junior Golf includes the state’s top tournaments and programs for the state’s golfers aged 18 or younger, featuring the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour, Youth on Course, the Youth on Course caddie program, PGA Jr. League, and Drive, Chip & Putt. Kentucky Junior Golf is dedicated to introducing Kentucky’s youth to the game of golf, providing resources to further enjoyment within the sport, and developing the skills necessary for players to thrive both on and off the golf course.