Long Beach State University Athletics
Dominant Season From Long Beach State Reflected In Big West Postseason Awards
5/12/2026 12:39:00 PM | Men's Golf
Senior Alejandro de Castro Piera is the fifth LBSU Men’s Golfer to be named Big West Golfer of the Year.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Following a memorable season that led into a commanding victory at the Big West Championship, Long Beach State Men's Golf claimed many top awards as the 2025-26 Big West All-Conference awards were announced on Tuesday. Alejandro de Castro Piera was the Big West Golfer of the Year, Rob Murray was the Big West Coach of the Year, and all five members of the lineup from the championship were selected for the First Team.
Leading a program that was ranked in the Top 30 nationally throughout the season before a 47-stroke victory at the Big West Championship, a fourth title in a row, head coach Rob Murray won his fourth Big West Coach of the Year honor in his four years at the helm of the program. He passes program legend Del Walker for the most Big West Coach of the Year awards in program history.
Senior Alejandro de Castro Piera was recognized as the Big West Men's Golfer of the Year. Ranked as high as No. 27 nationally this season, de Castro finished in the Top 10 in 9 of 11 tournaments this season, winning the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate and placing as a runner-up on two other occasions. Boasting the lowest stroke average in the conference under 70 at 69.18 entering the NCAA postseason, de Castro has led from the front all season for a historically successful Long Beach State program. It is his second straight selection to the First Team.
Graduate Steen Zeman was the Individual Medalist at the Big West Championship, winning the tournament with a score of -11. Zeman was also the runner-up at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, two of five total Top 10 finishes on the season. Zeman was previously a Second Team selection following the 2024 season.
Junior Krishnav Chopraa repeated as a First Team All-Big West selection. The 2025 Big West Individual Medalist, Chopraa had five Top 20 finishes in 2025-26, including a Top 10 finish at the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate.
Second on the team in stroke average in 2025-26, senior Jaden Huggins earned his second Big West honor after earning Honorable Mention in 2023. Huggins had five Top 5 finishes this season, including sharing second place at the Big West Championship and a team-best fifth place finish at the Cal Poly Invitational hosted at The Preserve earlier this fall.
Senior Jack Cantlay was elevated to the First Team after two prior selections to the Second Team in 2023 and 2025. Sharing second place at the Big West Championship, Cantlay had a pair of Top 10 finishes as well as three additional Top 20 performances across a season where he played in all 11 tournaments for Long Beach State.
It is the first time in conference history that five players from one team have been First Team All-Big West, and just the third time that all five players have been recognized on any team, coming in 2021 and last season in 2025.
Long Beach State opens the postseason as the fourth seed at the Columbus Regional hosted by Ohio State on May 18.
Leading a program that was ranked in the Top 30 nationally throughout the season before a 47-stroke victory at the Big West Championship, a fourth title in a row, head coach Rob Murray won his fourth Big West Coach of the Year honor in his four years at the helm of the program. He passes program legend Del Walker for the most Big West Coach of the Year awards in program history.
Senior Alejandro de Castro Piera was recognized as the Big West Men's Golfer of the Year. Ranked as high as No. 27 nationally this season, de Castro finished in the Top 10 in 9 of 11 tournaments this season, winning the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate and placing as a runner-up on two other occasions. Boasting the lowest stroke average in the conference under 70 at 69.18 entering the NCAA postseason, de Castro has led from the front all season for a historically successful Long Beach State program. It is his second straight selection to the First Team.
Graduate Steen Zeman was the Individual Medalist at the Big West Championship, winning the tournament with a score of -11. Zeman was also the runner-up at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, two of five total Top 10 finishes on the season. Zeman was previously a Second Team selection following the 2024 season.
Junior Krishnav Chopraa repeated as a First Team All-Big West selection. The 2025 Big West Individual Medalist, Chopraa had five Top 20 finishes in 2025-26, including a Top 10 finish at the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate.
Second on the team in stroke average in 2025-26, senior Jaden Huggins earned his second Big West honor after earning Honorable Mention in 2023. Huggins had five Top 5 finishes this season, including sharing second place at the Big West Championship and a team-best fifth place finish at the Cal Poly Invitational hosted at The Preserve earlier this fall.
Senior Jack Cantlay was elevated to the First Team after two prior selections to the Second Team in 2023 and 2025. Sharing second place at the Big West Championship, Cantlay had a pair of Top 10 finishes as well as three additional Top 20 performances across a season where he played in all 11 tournaments for Long Beach State.
It is the first time in conference history that five players from one team have been First Team All-Big West, and just the third time that all five players have been recognized on any team, coming in 2021 and last season in 2025.
Long Beach State opens the postseason as the fourth seed at the Columbus Regional hosted by Ohio State on May 18.
Players Mentioned
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