Golfer Octavio Laurent Captures National Championship
University of South Carolina Beaufort golfer Octavio Laurent has ended his freshman
season by winning the NCAA Division II Championship in Boulder City, Nev. Laurent
also claimed the 2026 NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award.
“Octavio has been nothing but phenomenal since he stepped foot on campus in August.
I could not be more thrilled for all of his hard work to pay off in such a rewarding
way. To end the year by not only winning the NCAA Championship, but to do so by breaking
several NCAA records is spectacular,” said head coach Cory Cottrell. “This was a special
week for Octavio, but also the whole USCB golf community. There are so many people
who have poured so much time and dedication into USCB golf, that this success is shared
with them as well”.
Laurent, who is from Bordeaux, France, finished the NCAA Division II Championship
with a tournament-high 22 birdies. He added 27 pars to total 49 pars or better in
54 holes in the tournament. He went 18 straight holes at par or better and played
35 of 36 holes at par or better during the final two rounds.
Laurent's championship run began on May 18 as he kept pace with the field, finishing
tied for 19th place after carding a two-under-par first round. It only got better
from there. In round two at Boulder Creek Golf Club, he finished the afternoon at
six-under-par, jumping 17 spots on the leaderboard and moving into a tie for second
place.
On May 20, Laurent closed out the final 18 holes at nine-under-par after an impressive
round that included nine birdies, nine pars, and a score of 63. He finished the three-round
tournament with a total score of 199 and 17-under-par, both of which set program records
for a tournament.
Octavio Laurent.
Laurent’s third round made history, not only securing the championship but also making
him the first Sand Shark athlete to win a national title in the NCAA Division II era.
The tournament win caps off a remarkable freshman season for Laurent. His accolades
this year include:
- 2026 NCAA Division II National Champion (Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award)
- 2026 NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award
- Peach Belt Conference Co-Player of the Year
- Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
- 2026 First Team NCAA Division II PING All-Southeast Region Team
- 2026 First Team NCAA Division II PING All-America
AS 05/21/2026