Gray Albright just claimed the biggest win of his golf career, and it happened in dramatic fashion at one of amateur golf’s most prestigious events.
The Florida State fifth-year senior won the Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club last week, sinking an incredible 50-foot birdie putt from an awkward stance – with his back foot in a bunker, no less – to force his way into a playoff.
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He went on to beat his own teammate, Jack Bigham, on the first extra hole.
“I kind of blacked out and went nuts from there,” Albright said. “That was one of the cooler holes I’ve ever played.”
It’s been quite a journey for the lefty from Ocala, Florida. When he first arrived at Florida State, he couldn’t even crack the lineup. For three years, he barely played at all.
“I didn’t know as much about golf as I thought I did,” he admits.
Golf runs in his blood – his dad played at North Carolina, and his brother competed at Gardner-Webb. But having a good golf IQ and a hot putter wasn’t enough. His swing needed work.
These days, Albright’s game is on a different level. He regularly goes head-to-head with PGA Tour players who train at FSU’s home course, including rising star Luke Clanton.
“Not going to lie, he has been kicking my butt lately,” Albright says of Clanton, who’s already notched four top-10s on the PGA Tour.
Those tough matches have paid off. At Ocean Forest, Albright looked right at home in brutal conditions – freezing temperatures, howling winds, and a field packed with five of the world’s top 12 amateurs.
His coach, Trey Jones, can hardly believe the transformation.
“There’s no way you could’ve seen him winning on that golf course two years ago,” Jones said.
Now ranked No. 61 in the world amateur rankings, Albright’s got some big decisions ahead. He’s currently 18th in PGA Tour University standings – the top 10 get Korn Ferry Tour cards after NCAAs. But there’s also a chance he could make this year’s Walker Cup team, which would mean putting off his pro career.
His coach thinks he’ll make the smart choice, whatever that ends up being.
“He sees the big picture. That’s why he came back for a fifth year, to get better. He has the ability to be patient,” Jones said.
For now, Albright’s name sits alongside Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg, and Patrick Reed as Jones Cup champions. Pretty good company for someone who couldn’t get a tournament start just a few years ago.
Soon enough, he’ll be one of those pros coming back to challenge the college guys at FSU’s home course. But first, there’s still some unfinished business in his college career.
