Autauga County Special Olympics Golf Team Set for Area Games at Robert Trent Jones

Two Autauga County golfers are headed to Minnesota this June after earning invitations to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, a milestone that coach Dean Ferris calls almost unbelievable for a program that only started five years ago.

Samantha Brasher and Justin Egbe will represent Autauga County among more than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing across the Twin Cities at the USA Games. But first, the team competes Saturday, March 14 at 4:00 p.m. in the Area Games golf tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, the same course where they have spent months sharpening their putting and chipping in preparation.

Brasher has been with the program since Ferris launched it and has built a record of state tournament gold medals along the way. "Samantha has been here since year one, and has continued her consistency and done very well, won gold medals at the state tournament and all and just really done well," Ferris said. Egbe joined the team more recently but matched that level of achievement quickly. "Justin has been with us for the last couple of years and he did well in the state tournament as well. And won a couple of gold medals," Ferris said.

For Brasher, the invitation to compete nationally has been a long time coming in her mind. "I'm really excited. I've been counting down ever since I was told about it," she said.

Ferris, who built the Autauga County team from scratch five years ago, said the speed at which his athletes have reached this level still catches him off guard. "Less than four years to be able to get invites to go to the USA tournament, that's unbelievable," he said. He credits the consistency of his athletes, who show up at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail every Tuesday afternoon. "I have very dedicated golfers that are out here every Tuesday afternoon to try to do better," Ferris said.

The team is coordinated with support from community organizations including the Prattville Civitan Club, which helps organize volunteers, and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, which has supported the program and serves as both their practice home and Saturday's competition venue. "To be invited to go to the USA Games is a great honor," Ferris said.

After Saturday's Area Games, the team's next stop is the state tournament in May, with Brasher and Egbe then set to make the trip to the Twin Cities in June.