LOUISVILLE, KY (December 1, 2023) – For the second year in a row, Brady Smith of Simpsonville and Athena Singh of Morehead claim the Golf House Kentucky Junior Player of the Year titles for the 2023 season. This award honors the top male and female in Kentucky who are 18 years of age or younger based on their results in top junior tournaments and other prestigious tournaments on the local, regional, or national scale.

Smith had a stellar end to his junior golf career, playing his final season at the Christian Academy of Louisville. His points-gathering tournament season began close to home in April at the AJGA Justin Thomas Junior Championship at Harmony Landing, where he placed second with rounds of 70-75-64. The streak continued into the summer months, firing 73-70 at the Kentucky Boys Junior PGA to tie for third, and rounds of 74-67 at the Kentucky Junior Amateur in July to tie for second. His season then headed outside of the Commonwealth, where he was one of just two Kentucky players to compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur in Charleston, South Carolina. His last fall playing for CAL was a great one, with strong performances at both the KGCA and KHSAA State tournaments. A second place finish in September at the KGCA All State Championship at Big Blue/Wildcat was followed by winning the KHSAA Boys State Individual Championship in October for the second year in a row. Smith begins his collegiate career in the fall of 2024 at the University of Louisville.

“It feels great to take home this award again, especially with the back-to-back state titles, as well,” says Smith. “I feel ready to begin my collegiate career and look forward to continuing to work on my game until then, especially mobility and speed training.” Smith also emphasizes how special this year and the awards he has won are to him and his dad.

Click here to view the final boys standings

Like Smith, Singh had a fantastic year both in and out of the Commonwealth. Opening the points season with a top 20 finish at the Justin Thomas Junior Championship, the remainder was filled with top three finishes at both AJGA and KPGAJT events. She claimed another AJGA title in May at the Visit Owensboro Junior All-Star event by an impressive five shots with rounds of 68-67. The rest of the summer saw a mix of first and second place finishes, with Singh successfully defending her title at the 44th Girls Junior Amateur at the University of Louisville Golf Club, firing rounds of 69-70. Singh headed to the Air Force Academy in Colorado at the end of the month to compete in the U.S. Girls Junior, one of two participants from Kentucky. The Rowan County sophomore closed the points race with a second place finish at the KGCA All State Championship and a third place finish at the KHSAA Girls State Individual Championship. 

Click here to view the final girls standings

Golf House Kentucky and its respective organizations congratulate the Smith and Singh families on these accomplishments and thank them for their outstanding representation of Kentucky golf.

The 2024 tournament schedules from the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour, Kentucky PGA Section and Kentucky Golf Association will be released this winter to set the stage for the 2024 Golf House Kentucky Junior Player of the Year races.

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.

About Golf House Kentucky:
Known as the Family of Golf Organizations throughout the Commonwealth, Golf House Kentucky is the umbrella organization for the Kentucky Golf Association, Kentucky Golf Foundation and Kentucky PGA Section. Golf House Kentucky is located next to Persimmon Ridge Golf Club and is open each weekday to visitors who can tour the Kentucky Golf Museum containing some of the most valuable items associated with Kentucky golf. Each of the organizations associated with Golf House Kentucky all share the goal of promoting golf, its values, and services designed to further enjoyment of the game for the state’s citizens.

Media Contact:
Abby Ligons | Golf House Kentucky | aligons@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703