Five 2026 recipients and past honorees recognized during Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic week
The KW88 Gift Award, created to honor the extraordinary legacy of golf legend Kathy Whitworth, celebrated both new and returning recipients during activities surrounding the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic at TPC Scottsdale. The presentation recognized five outstanding 2026 recipients, along with previous honorees whose continued success reflects the mission of the award.
Selected as 2026 KW88 Gift Award recipients are:
- Gracen Blount
- Riley Rennell
- Bi Shin
- Samantha Wagner
- Christine Wang
Attending the Presentation
Four of the five 2026 recipients were present to receive their awards, including Riley Rennell, Bi Shin, Samantha Wagner and Christine Wang.
They were joined by 2025 KW88 Gift Award recipients Katherine Muzi and Anna Nordfors. Together, these athletes represent what is now being recognized as the KW88 Gift Award Family—a growing community of competitors connected not only by the award, but by shared purpose, perseverance, and promise.
2026 recipient Gracen Blount was unable to attend, as she was competing in a U.S. Women’s Openqualifier in Texarkana.
The KW88 Gift Award provides direct financial support to rising professional golfers pursuing their dream of advancement to the LPGA Tour. Each 2026 recipient received a $5,000 gift, for a total of $25,000 awarded this year.
Since its inception, the KW88 Gift Award has distributed $47,000 in direct support to emerging women professional golfers.
In addition to the financial support, recipients reflected on the meaningful impact of the application and selection process itself– an experience that encouraged them to revisit their goals, reconnect with their purpose, and draw inspiration from Kathy Whitworth’s remarkable legacy.
“I am so proud to receive this gift and to be a part of the KW88 Gift Award Family,” said Riley Rennell. “But it isn’t just receiving the gift that is meaningful. I was so inspired by going through the selection process and being reminded of Kathy Whitworth’s amazing story and then feeling energized even more to follow my dreams. It was game changing for me.”
Now in its continuing mission to uplift women’s professional golf, the award recognizes athletes whose journeys reflect determination, promise, resilience, and character—qualities long associated with Whitworth, whose record-setting 88 LPGA victories remain unmatched by any competitor, either male or female.
“This award is about more than financial support,” said Bettye Odle, Kathy Whitworth’s partner and chairwoman of the Kathy Whitworth Foundation. “It is about encouragement, belief, and honoring Kathy Whitworth’s lifelong commitment to excellence, generosity, and helping others succeed.”
Applications for the 2026 awards were distributed through networks supporting young women pursuing their dream of playing on the LPGA Tour. Recipients were selected by the KW88 Gift Award Committee, which in addition to Ms. Odle, included Kathy Whitworth Foundation President Cathy Harbin, Rosey Bartlett, Diane Butler, and Diana Gats.
The KW88 Gift Award was established to celebrate Whitworth’s unmatched contributions to golf while creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of women competitors. Through direct gifts and growing community support, the award continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of aspiring champions.
More Information
Also attached are brief biographies of the 2026 winners.
For more information about the KW88 Gift Award and the 2026 Gifting Gala, visit:
https://kathy-whitworth-88-gifting-gala-2026.perfectgolfevent.com/
Media Contact
Barbara Griffith
817-602-5011
griffith.barbara@att.net
2026 KW Gift Award Recipient Profiles
Gracen Blount
Gracen Blount has built her golf career on determination, resilience, and a refusal to let traditional pathways define her future. A professional since 2023, Blount came to the game later than many of her peers, beginning golf at age 15, yet quickly developed into an accomplished competitor with eight individual college victories and honors as a 2022 WGCA All-American. She also earned recognition three times as a GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, reflecting excellence both on the course and in the classroom.
Now competing professionally, Blount continues to pursue her dream of reaching the LPGA through talent, hard work, and perseverance. She has funded her journey through a combination of family support and personal hustle, including giving lessons and working other jobs to stay in the game. Looking ahead, she hopes not only to compete full-time on the LPGA Tour, but also to use her platform to champion talented players from Division II and Division III programs who often do not receive the same visibility as their Division I counterparts.
Riley Rennell
Riley Rennell has built a professional golf career defined by grit, versatility, and an unwavering determination to compete at the highest level. A standout at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Riley has been a professional since 2018. She has earned multiple Top 10 finishes on the Epson Tour, gained full LPGA Tour status in 2023 through Q-School Finals, and posted a runner-up finish at the 2022 Epson Tour Championship, where she set a tournament scoring record at 22-under par. Her résumé also includes six USGA appearances, three professional tour victories, and numerous runner-up finishes across developmental tours.
Beyond golf, Rennell’s accomplishments reveal remarkable range and discipline. She is a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a multiple-time World Grand Champion, has taught herself to speak, read, and write Japanese, and is an accomplished painter whose watercolor and acrylic works have been sold. Looking ahead, Rennell’s goals include reestablishing herself on the LPGA Tour, competing in major championships, and eventually creating opportunities for young athletes through a future junior golf foundation and training center. Her story is one of resilience, talent, and the relentless work ethic required to turn ambition into achievement.
Bi Shin
Bi Shin began playing professionally in 2020 and has achieved notable success, including finishing in the Top 30 on the WAPT Race to Stage II in 2023, finishing number 1 in WAPT in 2023, and recording five Top 10 finishes on the Epson Tour. She has also set a record for the fastest win on the Jump Tour after turning pro in Korea. Her career has been primarily funded by family and friends, and she has taken a sabbatical for financial reasons.
Bi Shin’s personal and professional goals include finishing number 1 on the Epson Tour in 2026, winning Rookie of the Year on the LPGA in 2027, and succeeding in the U.S. golf scene. She faces financial pressures, especially from her struggling parents in Korea, and believes the KW88 Gift Award would significantly ease her travel and mental stress, helping her pursue her ambitions more effectively.
Samantha Wagner
Samantha Wagner has spent nearly her entire life pursuing excellence in golf, beginning with a childhood dream of competing among the best in the world and steadily turning that ambition into reality. A professional since 2018, Wagner has compiled an impressive résumé that includes multiple Top 10 finishes on the Epson Tour, three appearances in major championships, and a 2025 Epson Tour victory at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. She was also a standout amateur, representing the United States on the 2013 Junior Solheim Cup team captained by Kathy Whitworth and competing in the Kathy Whitworth Invitational four times.
A graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in psychology, Wagner brings discipline, perspective, and purpose to her career. Beyond tournament competition, she has devoted time to service projects, including making blankets for child advocacy centers during tour stops, and is currently training her golden retriever, Augustus, to become a service dog. Looking ahead, Wagner’s goals include securing full LPGA Tour status, winning at the highest level, and one day representing Team USA in the Solheim Cup and Olympic Games. Her journey reflects not only competitive talent, but also the professionalism, character, and determination that define lasting success.
Christine Wang
Christine Wang has combined competitive excellence, academic achievement, and a fresh vision for the future of women’s golf. A professional since 2024, Wang quickly made her mark with a Top 10 finish on the 2025 Epson Tour and a top five showing at the Otter Creek Championship. Her amateur career was equally distinguished, highlighted by winning the 2023 Southern California Women’s Amateur, helping the University of Southern California capture the 2023 Pac-12 team title, and representing Team USA on the victorious 2019 Junior Solheim Cup squad.
Off the course, Wang’s story is one of determination and trailblazing accomplishment. She became the first person in her family to attend college, earning both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in marketing from USC while competing as a starter on the women’s golf team. Looking ahead, Wang aspires to earn LPGA status, contend for major championships, and help broaden golf’s appeal by connecting directly with new audiences through social media and storytelling. Her journey reflects the same blend of joy, competitiveness, and character that Kathy Whitworth championed throughout her legendary career.
