SWING KINGS
Chad Pfeifer
CAPTAIN - ADAPTIVE
Chad Pfeifer is a former U.S. Army paratrooper who served in Iraq. In 2007, his patrol vehicle was struck by an IED, causing severe trauma that resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Discovering golf during his rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center, Pfeifer quickly developed into an elite player, winning three National Amputee Golf Championships and multiple George W. Bush Warrior Opens. He gained national fame as a contestant on Golf Channel’s Big Break and became the first veteran amputee to compete in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
Pfeifer serves as the National Programs Coordinator for the On Course Foundation and founded Moving Forward, a non-profit dedicated to assisting disabled individuals through golf. A veteran of eight Simpson Cups, Pfeifer remains one of the most influential figures in world adaptive golf. Pfeifer has been involved in the Brightspot events from the beginning and sits on the board of the Hudson Valley Golf Foundation.
Jacob Nelson
VETERAN
Jacob Nelson is a retired U.S. Marine Corps infantryman and a standout leader within the veteran golf community. Having overcome a turbulent childhood in foster care, Nelson enlisted at 18 and served four combat deployments across Iraq and Afghanistan before medically retiring in 2015 due to combat injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He turned to golf through the On Course Foundation, finding the sport essential to his civilian transition and personal recovery.
Nelson has represented Team USA seven times in the Simpson Cup and was named the playing captain for Team USA at the event. Viewing his role as captain much like his time as a Marine squad leader, Nelson uses golf to rebuild the brotherhood, leadership, and mission-driven focus he cherished in the military.
Andrew Austen
ADAPTIVE
Andrew Austen, known widely online as "Jimmythekiiid," is a popular adaptive athlete, content creator, and golfer from the Philadelphia area, currently living in Charleston, South Carolina. Born without his right forearm and hand, Austen grew up excelling as an all-around multi-sport athlete, refusing to allow his limb difference to limit his competitive ambitions.
Austen uses his platform to bring visibility to adaptive athletics through engaging digital media and youth coaching. When not competing in adaptive golf tournaments, he coaches middle school basketball and baseball, mentoring young athletes on perseverance, athletic potential, and confidence.
Matt Gang
SPECIAL OLYMPICS - ADAPTIVE
Matt Gang has been around the game of golf since the age of six and has developed into an accomplished adaptive golfer, competing in events across the country. A former varsity letterman and captain of his high school golf team, Matt has participated in more than 10 pro-am events and continues to compete in adaptive championships throughout the United States.
Matt is also an important part of the team at Storm King Golf Club, where his passion for the game extends beyond his own competitive career. Through his work at Storm King, Matt contributes to the golf experience while helping support the club’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for golfers of all abilities. His enthusiasm for the game, competitive spirit, and welcoming personality make him a valued member of both the Storm King team and the adaptive golf community.
Justin Castellanos
Veteran
Justin Castellanos is a U.S. Army veteran who served five years with the elite 1st Ranger Battalion, completing four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. During his combat service, Castellanos sustained physical service-connected injuries that led him to adaptive golf as a way to maintain physical fitness and manage the physical demands of transition. Following his military service, he joined the Boston Fire Department, continuing his commitment to public service.
An exceptional competitor, Castellanos has represented Team USA at the prestigious Simpson Cup, a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring injured service members from the U.S. and Great Britain. Known for his focus and sharp competitive drive, he regularly participates in military fundraising events, using golf to maintain strong ties with his fellow combat veterans.
Steve Ogletree
VETERAN
Steve Ogletree is a 21-year U.S. Army veteran who found a new outlook on life through golf following his military career. Dealing with service-connected injuries and the invisible wounds of war—including severe PTSD from multiple worldwide combat deployments—Ogletree was introduced to golf as part of his clinical rehabilitation at Walter Reed.
Ogletree rose to prominence as a player and leader, serving as the Team USA Captain and leading the American squad to victory over Great Britain in the Simpson Cup. A civilian contract specialist for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Ogletree actively recruits recovering service members for career programs while using golf to promote mental wellness.
Ryanne Jackson
ADAPTIVE
Ryanne Jackson, from St. Petersburg, Florida, is a world-class adaptive golfer who competes in the neurological/coordination impairment category. Diagnosed with scapuloperoneal muscular dystrophy at age 19 during her freshman year of college, Jackson transformed her relationship with a game she had played since childhood, adapting her swing to accommodate progressive shoulder and leg weakness.
In 2023, Jackson captured the overall Women’s Championship title at the U.S. Adaptive Open. Her national victory earned her invitations to compete internationally on the DP World Tour’s prestigious G4D (Golf for Disabled) Tour. Outside of golf, she works as a patient support technician in an ER while continuing to advocate for female representation in adaptive athletics.
Vince Egan
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Vincent “Vince” Egan is an athlete from Colorado Springs, Colorado, who competes across multiple Special Olympics sports. A former World Games gold medalist in Alpine Skiing, Egan brings that same elite competitive drive to golf, regularly contending in national adaptive and unified tournaments across the nation.
In addition to playing, Egan works in the golf industry at Plum Creek Golf Club in Castle Rock, CO as an assistant golf professional. He is also a certified Health Messenger and Athlete Leader with Special Olympics Colorado and authored a training curriculum titled Athletes as Coaches to help fellow athletes transition into coaching roles.
Zachary Duncan
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Zachary Duncan is an accomplished adaptive golfer who began playing the sport at seven years old. Competing in events across the United States—including the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open and 5th Annual US Adaptive Open, Zachary approaches every tournament with a focus on personal growth, camaraderie, and steady improvement.
Zachary views golf as a lifelong passion and aspires to build a career around the game. His positive mindset and dedication to connecting with fellow competitors have made him a respected presence in the adaptive golf community.