Alex Miller’s victory at the 2026 Arkansas Junior Match Play was more than a hometown championship. After navigating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, major foot surgery and months away from competition, Miller’s breakthrough win became a powerful testament to perseverance, belief and the support of an entire community.

By: Maya Komanetsky, Marketing and Communications P.J. Boatwright Intern

SEARCY, Ark. (Thursday, July 2, 2026) — As the final putt dropped at Searcy Country Club, Alex Miller did more than win a trophy.

He closed a chapter of doubt, frustration, and waiting while opening a new one as the 2026 Arkansas Junior Match Play champion.

For Miller, a Searcy native and Class of 2026 golfer, the win marked the first major title of his golf career. But the story behind it goes far beyond one week of match play. It’s a story of long practices, tough losses, hometown support, family encouragement and a lot of determination from a player who has never let his challenges get the final say.

Miller has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a neuromuscular disease that mainly affects him from the waist down. For him, that means walking 18 holes is not realistic without pain and fatigue. He has dealt with balance issues, worn leg braces since fifth grade, and had to approach the game differently from many of the players he competes against.

But ask Miller about it now, and he does not talk like someone held back by it.

He talks like someone who has learned exactly who he is.

Miller said he used to hate talking about CMT. Now, he sees it as part of the person God made him to be. He knows it makes his path different, but he also knows different does not mean impossible.

That mindset was tested in late 2023. On Halloween night, Miller began dealing with severe foot pain. It turned out to be a stress fracture in his right foot, one that never properly healed because he was constantly putting pressure on that side of his body. 

In January 2024, he had foot reconstruction surgery. The procedure left him with four screws and more than 90 stitches in his right foot. For three months, he could not pick up a golf club. In total, he spent nearly seven months away from normal competition and training.

For a golfer chasing birdies and championships, that kind of break can feel brutal.

But when Miller returned, he did not come back quietly. His first tournament after surgery was at Burns Park, where he played what he called his best two-day tournament ever. Later that year, at the 2024 junior match play, against now-Arkansas Razorback Will Gordon, Miller experienced a turning point in how he viewed his own game. The two battled deep into the match, and Miller lipped out a birdie putt on 18.

He did not win that day, but something in him clicked. 

The match showed him that he could compete at the next level. It changed his mental game. It reminded him that even after surgeries, setbacks, and time away from the game, he could still go head-to-head against strong players. 

From there, Miller kept the momentum. 

Before the first big win, there were a lot of quiet rounds nobody saw. 

There were hot days, frustrating tournaments and moments when he had to remind himself not to compare his journey to anyone else’s. Miller said one of the biggest lessons he has learned is to be himself and believe that he is capable. 

“Believing in myself, knowing that I’m capable and able to do it,” Miller said. “Put in the time and work, even when no one is watching.” 

That work finally came together June 29 through July 2 at Searcy Country Club, where the Arkansas Junior Match Play Championship came to town for the first time. 

Winning at Searcy Country Club meant that friends who normally do not get to watch him compete could be there. Older members he had grown up around got to follow along. Junior golfers came out to watch him and cheer him on as well.

That part meant a lot to Miller, who helps coach junior clinics and understands what it feels like to be the younger kid looking up to the older players.

Seeing them out there made him reflect on when he played at that age. 

Of course, playing at home also brought attention. He said he only felt nervous over the first tee shots each day. Once the opening shot was in the fairway, he got into the groove of things. 

There was pressure, but he did not view that as a bad thing. To Miller, pressure is a privilege.

The week had its ups and downs. Of the several matches, Miller recalls his intense second match against Carter Pulley. Miller found himself 3 down through three holes, which would lead most to feel discouraged. Instead, he stayed composed, waited for opportunities to redeem himself and took advantage of mistakes.

By the ninth hole, he had flipped the match and was 1 up. 

That turnaround captured the kind of player Miller has become throughout his journey. 

Tyler Meyl, Director of Member Services and Junior Golf at the Arkansas State Golf Association, said Miller’s consistency stood out throughout the week.

“Through 110 holes of golf with a field that large, you don’t get to watch every hole,” Meyl said. “But every shot that I saw him hit was rivaling someone else’s play.”

Meyl said the Arkansas Junior Match Play is one of the best tests for junior golfers in the state because it demands more than one good round. 

“It’s a spectacular opportunity to show off someone’s grit and tenacity,” Meyl said. “It takes seven rounds to even contend for the junior match play champion title. It’s a week-long marathon of golf.”

That marathon became even more special because of where it was held. Meyl said hosting the event at Searcy Country Club for the first time brought a lot of excitement, especially with Miller competing as the hometown player. 

In the championship match, one of the biggest moments came on the 12th hole against Hogan O’Keefe. After losing two holes previously, Miller talked through a birdie putt with his caddie, Kade Smith. Then he stepped up on the green and sank it. 

That putt fired him up. 

A few holes later, on 15, Miller could feel the finish line approaching. That was the turning point for him. That was when he realized he was going to win.

One hole later, he earned the title of 2026 Junior Match Play Champion. 

For Miller, the victory meant more than just a trophy. He couldn’t help but stand in awe of all the people who supported him up until that victory. 

His dad has been a major support in his golf game. His mom has been there for both the personal and medical aspects of his journey. His grandfather has encouraged him to be the best version of himself without comparing his life to others. Bruce Baxley, his longtime coach, has helped shape his swing and his development as a player. 

Miller also credits Meyl and ASGA Executive Director Carson Roberts for supporting him, helping with recruiting and making him feel seen in the junior golf community. 

Miller said Meyl has always been there to make things easier for him, including making sure a cart was always ready when he arrived at the course. 

Even his competitors recognized what the win meant. After the tournament, Hogan texted Miller and told him that while he hates losing, losing to Alex did not feel too bad. 

That says a lot about the respect that Miller has earned. 

Now, with his first major title behind him, Miller has big goals ahead. 

He plans to attend Arkansas Tech and play college golf, where his freshman-year goal is simple: stay humble, work hard, and earn a spot in as many matches as he can. From there, he hopes to transfer to a Division I program, compete for major golf honors, and eventually chase professional golf.

His dream is to become a professional golfer with a disability and show what is possible for players whose paths may look different than others.

He does not compare himself to the average player because he knows his story is not average. But he also knows he has determination. 

For now, he is the hometown champion. 

A champion who went through surgery, setbacks, leg braces, long recoveries, and a handful of quiet rounds before the breakthrough finally arrived. 

Alex Miller’s win at the 2026 Arkansas Junior Match Play was his first big one, but it certainly will not be his last. 

Miller plans to compete in the Arkansas Junior Amateur in Rogers next week and is eager to build on the high from his recent win.