It was a kudos-filled Wednesday for UTEP Golfer and Senior Charles Corner, as he was named to the C-USA All-Conference Second Team and will be headed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships.
Corner was selected as one of 10 individuals participating in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships, the NCAA Men’s Golf Committee announced Wednesday. Earlier in the day, and for the second consecutive year, Corner earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Conference Second Team list.
Corner finished his collegiate career with two conference second-team selections, two Golfer of the Week honors, a spot on the 2018 InTouch Credit Union All-Academic team as well as a 2017 Conference USA Championship.
“It’s been a great year,” Corner said. “I’m very excited to get this award.”
The Canada product paced the team as the Miners’ top finisher in four of five spring tournaments. He most recently finished in a tie for 31st at the Conference USA Championship, where the team took eighth. Corner constructed a team-best 71.5 stroke average through 12 events with three top-five finishes. His second-place showing at the Price’s Give ‘Em Five Invitational lifted UTEP to a team crown.
Corner helped the Miners finish the year with one tournament title and eight top-10 finishes, include three top-five finishes, in 12 tournaments this season.
As for the NCAA Championship schedule, six 54-hole regional tournaments will take place, Corner will head to Stockton, Calif. to compete at The Reserve at Spanos Park, hosted by University of the Pacific May 14-16.
It will mark Corner’s second appearance at an NCAA Regional tournament and the first time he will compete as an individual. Last season, he joined the Miners at the Washington regional where they competed as a team. Corner spearheaded the UTEP run all tournament and finished in a tie for 22nd.
Corner will be competing as an individual amongst 13 teams to include regional top-seed LSU, Alabama, Stanford, Southern California, Oregon, TCU, Colorado, Kansas, Kennesaw State, Iowa State, UNC Greensboro, UC Irvine, and North Dakota State. Individual competitors include Carl Yuan (Washington), Riley Elmes (Loyola Marymount), Vinnie Murphy (Grand Canyon), Felix Mory (CSU-Northridge), Blake Tomlinson (Utah), Henry Kee (Washington), Jeremy Gandon (Kansas State), Ryan Han (UC Davis), and Michael Christifulli (Siena).
Thirteen teams and ten individuals not on those teams will compete at each of three regionals, while the other three regionals will have 14 teams and five individuals not on those teams. The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals.
Team and individual medalist titles will be decided May 25-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State University is the host institution for the 2018 championships.
Live stats for the regional tournament will be available via golfstat.com.
