Former CSUN men’s golf student-athlete Aaron Grimes clinched his first professional victory by winning the Long Beach Open on Sunday (Aug. 4) at El Dorado Park, Long Beach, California. The Long Beach Open welcomes all professional golfers, along with six amateurs who earn exemptions through the Long Beach Golf Festival’s qualification standards. The professional field is limited to 150 players, competing over 72 holes of stroke play.
During the four-day event (Aug. 1-4), Grimes finished with a total gross score of 266 (-18). The 30-year-old opened with a 68 on Thursday (Aug. 1), followed by rounds of 64, 68, and 66 to secure his first professional championship. Throughout the tournament, he tallied 21 birdies and one eagle.
The event was presented by American Golf and the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine. The Long Beach Open has a storied history, dating back to its origins as a PGA Tour event held at the Virginia Country Club from 1926 to 1930 and at the Lakewood Country Club from 1949 to 1951. The Long Beach Golf Festival, which encompasses the Open, is the largest and longest-running series of independent golf championships in America.
In 1957, the Long Beach Open was a PGA Satellite Event. Revived in 1989, the tournament moved to the El Dorado and Recreation Park golf courses. Since 2006, Skylinks has been included in the pre-cut rotation, replacing Recreation Park. Notably, World Golf Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford won the Long Beach Open (Satellite Tour) in 1957.
Grimes’ journey to professional golf has been marked by determination and resilience. He played parts of two seasons at CSUN, competing in three tournaments in the spring of 2014-15 and four tournaments in the fall of the 2015-16 campaign. He concluded his CSUN career with a 75.0 scoring average, including two top-15 finishes.
Growing up in Compton, California, Grimes began playing golf at the age of eight. Unlike many professional golfers, he didn’t have access to the same opportunities early on. However, playing alongside Patrick Cantlay and Beau Hossler in high school fueled his belief that his dreams were attainable. Grimes has since traveled the world, competing on mini-tours in pursuit of his professional golf aspirations.
The Western States Golf Association was instrumental in Grimes’ development as a junior golfer. “It helped me to learn the game, play the game, and stay in the game,” Grimes said in a Golf Channel interview. Through the Trinity League School, he gained access to some of the finest country clubs, which opened his eyes to the disparities in the golf world. “I kind of saw that compared to the golf that I was playing, it was a completely different world,” Grimes reflected. “The kids that grow up at these country clubs definitely get better access earlier on in life; they’re born in the right situation. But guys like myself, I had to kind of work a little harder and be put in that situation rather than just growing up in that situation.”
Grimes’ determination is a defining characteristic, and he continues to make strides towards achieving more success in professional golf.
