Long Beach State University Athletics
Alejandro De Castro Qualifies For The Open As An Amateur
6/30/2026 2:39:00 PM | Men's Golf
De Castro joins an elite group of former Long Beach State players to compete in a major tournament.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Recent graduate Alejandro de Castro Piera announced his presence internationally in a big way, qualifying as an individual for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
Competing in the final round of qualifying, de Castro was one of 20 qualifiers from 288 golfers, both professional and amateur, competing in four sites around the United Kingdom. Competing at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset, England, de Castro followed a first-round 65 with a second round 69 on the Par 71 course, finishing in a tie for third-place with Tom Sloman and Austen Truslow at -8. LIV Golfers James Nicholas and Caleb Surratt finished in first and second, as the Top 5 finishers advanced into competition at the British Open.
The Big West Golfer of the Year, de Castro closed the year ranked No. 46 nationally, leading Long Beach State with a stroke average under 70 for the season at 69.6, going -61 against par over the course of the year.
The senior won the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate at -13, and had three additional Top 3 finishes during the season. He placed as the runner-up at both the R.E. Lamkin Invitational and the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate, and opened the year in third place at the Ram Masters Invitational.
In total, de Castro finished in the Top 5 six times, and the Top 10 nine times over the course of 12 tournaments in 2025-26. He played a big part in a historic fourth straight Big West Championship for the team, which saw the Beach place all five members of the team in the Top 5 in a 47-stroke victory at La Quinta Country Club
The Open itself will be held at Royal Birkdale on July 16-19, with de Castro one of 156 players competing for the famous Claret Jug in England.
Competing in the final round of qualifying, de Castro was one of 20 qualifiers from 288 golfers, both professional and amateur, competing in four sites around the United Kingdom. Competing at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset, England, de Castro followed a first-round 65 with a second round 69 on the Par 71 course, finishing in a tie for third-place with Tom Sloman and Austen Truslow at -8. LIV Golfers James Nicholas and Caleb Surratt finished in first and second, as the Top 5 finishers advanced into competition at the British Open.
The Big West Golfer of the Year, de Castro closed the year ranked No. 46 nationally, leading Long Beach State with a stroke average under 70 for the season at 69.6, going -61 against par over the course of the year.
The senior won the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate at -13, and had three additional Top 3 finishes during the season. He placed as the runner-up at both the R.E. Lamkin Invitational and the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate, and opened the year in third place at the Ram Masters Invitational.
In total, de Castro finished in the Top 5 six times, and the Top 10 nine times over the course of 12 tournaments in 2025-26. He played a big part in a historic fourth straight Big West Championship for the team, which saw the Beach place all five members of the team in the Top 5 in a 47-stroke victory at La Quinta Country Club
The Open itself will be held at Royal Birkdale on July 16-19, with de Castro one of 156 players competing for the famous Claret Jug in England.
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