Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Blacksburg alum and Auburn University’s Jake Albert has been named the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) freshman golfer of the year.
When the calendar turned to 2026, Albert really hit his stride, earning six top 20s and three top fives, all of which have come since February. As the No. 36 player in the nation, Albert ranks 50 spots higher than the league’s next freshman, making himself the clear choice for Rookie of the Year.
The graduate of Blacksburg High School dominated the amateur ranks before coming to Auburn. This includes the VSGA Mid-Atlantic Boys Junior Champion (2024), Back-to-back AJGA Lanto Junior Champion (2024, 2025), 2023 Virginia State Golf Association Junior Player of the Year, 2023 Jack Burke Jr. Invitational Champion, HS Golf National Invitational Champion (2022), Four-time VHSL State Champion, top-10 finisher at Junior PGA Championship (2024), Western Junior (2024) and Scott Robertson Memorial (2024), He is also a three-time qualifier for the U.S. Junior Amateur and won the 2025 Eastern Am by five shots.
In addition to the league’s freshman team, Albert was named to the SEC overall second team.
Auburn golf’s Anna Davis, Josiah Gilbert and Cayden Pope have all been selected to represent the United States in the 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup, which is set for July 3-5 at Tralee Golf Links in Barrow, Ireland.
The freshman Albert has also been tabbed as an alternate for the U.S.
No. 1 Auburn begins its postseason journey May 18-20 at the NCAA Athens Regional, a qualifier to the NCAA Championship, which is set for May 27 – June 3 at the Omni LaCosta Champions Course in Carlsbad, California.
