Laurent Named 2026 NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine Recipient
BOULDER CITY, Nev. -- Octavio Laurent of USCB has been named the recipient of the 2026 NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine.
The Bordeaux, France native compiled 10 top-20 finishes this season, including eight inside the top 10 and five top-fives. Ranked eighth via Scoreboard Powered by Clippd, Laurent carded 23 rounds of par or better and 10 rounds in the 60s in 2025-26, including a pair of 66s at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional on May 9 and the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship on May 19. On Wednesday, Laurent posted a program-low 63 with nine birdies and no bogeys that made him the 2026 NCAA Division II Individual National Champion by four strokes with a program-record 17-under 199 (70-66-63).
Laurent closed out the season on a seven-tournament top-20 finish streak and a 71.23 season scoring average, second-best in program history behind Erik Rengardt’s 71.05 in 2024-25. Laurent was named Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Co-Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and First Team All-PBC as well as earning PING All-Southeast Region and PING First Team All-America honors. For winning the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship, Laurent also earns the 2026 NCAA Division II Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award, becoming the first USCB golfer to win the award at any level.
Sacha Corlouer of Georgia Southwestern, Mattia D’Errico of Wingate, Gabriel Hull of Emmanuel (GA), and William Partner of Columbus State joined Laurent on the GCAA All-Freshman Team.
Previous Recipients
2025 - Brandon Skidmore, Wingate
2024 - Wyatt Provence, West Texas A&M
2023 - Alejandro de Castro, Anderson (SC)
2022 - Josep Serra, Nova Southeastern
2021 - Oliver Lewis-Perkins, Lee
2020 - Beck Burnette, Lee
2019 - Joel Sylven, UMSL
2018 - Alberto Castagnara, Saint Leo
2017 - Felix Kvarnstrom, Lynn
2016 - Hugo Bernard, Saint Leo
2015 - John Coultas, Florida Southern
2014 - Colin Prater, Colorado Mesa
2013 - Adam Svensson, Barry
2012 - Oscar Lengdèn, Nova Southeastern
2011 - Ricardo Gouveia, Lynn
2010 - Alex Carpenter, Abilene Christian
2009 - Jake Greer, North Alabama
2008 - Jude Eustaquio, Florida Southern
2007 - Hugues Joannes, Abilene Christian
2006 - Chris Killmer, CSU Bakersfield
2005 - Andy Moren, Stanislaus State
2004 - Andrea Signor, West Florida
2003 - Tim Feenstra, Western Washington
2002 - Ryan King, Cameron
2001 - Shaun Mahaffey, Cameron
2000 - Kevin Klebe, CSU Bakersfield
1999 - Chad Tate, Ferris State
1998 - Steve Jodlowski, Central Oklahoma
1997 - Tommy Moore, High Point
1996 - Jon Drewery, Columbus State
1995 - Nick Sabol, Catawba
1994 - Jamie Stanley, USCA
1993 - Marcus Cain, Abilene Christian
1992 - Martin Lonardi, Columbus State
About StrackaLine
Since 2007, StrackaLine has been the trusted Greens Guides and Yardage Book supplier to the touring professionals, collegiate teams, and all levels of amateur golf. StrackaLine’s USGA compliant greens guides offer a level of detail and accuracy not available anywhere else for the most precise green reading. The yardage books include complete tee-to-green measurements for every hole. StrackaLine is committed to elevating the overall level of play and lowering scores for golfers all around the world.