USC Beaufort golfer Octavio Laurent has been named the recipient of the 2026 NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine.
The Bordeaux, France native recorded 10 top 20 finishes during the 2025-26 season, including eight top 10 results and five top five finishes. Laurent finished the year ranked No. 8 in the Scoreboard powered by Clippd rankings while posting 23 rounds of par or better and 10 rounds in the 60s.
Laurent closed the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship with a program record 17 under 199 after rounds of 70, 66, and 63. His bogey free final round 63 included nine birdies and secured the NCAA Division II individual national title by four strokes. The victory also earned Laurent the 2026 NCAA Division II Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award, making him the first USC Beaufort golfer to receive the honor at any level.
During the season, Laurent posted a 71.23 scoring average, the second lowest mark in program history behind Erik Rengardt’s 71.05 average during the 2024-25 campaign. Laurent also finished the year on a seven tournament top 20 streak.
In addition to the national awards, Laurent earned Peach Belt Conference Co Player of the Year honors, Freshman of the Year recognition, First Team All Peach Belt Conference honors, PING All Southeast Region recognition, and PING First Team All America honors.
Laurent was joined on the GCAA All Freshman Team by Sacha Corlouer of Georgia Southwestern, Mattia D’Errico of Wingate, Gabriel Hull of Emmanuel Georgia, and William Partner of Columbus State.
About StrackaLine
Since 2007, StrackaLine has provided greens guides and yardage books for professional, collegiate, and amateur golfers. The company’s USGA compliant greens guides and yardage books deliver detailed green reading information and tee to green measurements for players around the world.
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