TEXARKANA, Arkansas -- UTEP claimed the 2017 Conference USA Men's Golf Championship title, winning the league's match play event over Charlotte at the Texarkana Country Club (par 72/6,969 yards). The C-USA title is the first for the program in its history and the Miners will make their 14th team appearance in the NCAA Division I Championship as the recipient of the league's automatic berth.

UTEP junior Nicklas Pihl got the Miners off to a solid start in the championship vs. Charlotte. The match with 49er freshman Conor Purcell was all square through eight holes before Pihl found another gear. He won two of the next three holes to go 2UP through the 11th hole.

UTEP pushed its team advantage to 2-0, thanks to Charles Corner knocking off the Niners frosh Matty Lamb, 2UP. Corner started fast by taking the first two holes, an edge he maintained through the turn. Lamb’s comeback started on the back nine with wins at both 10 and 13 to make the match all square. Corner remained steadfast, winning both the 15th and 18th holes to put Lamb away. 

From there, Charlotte would get on the scoreboard after sophomore Tyler Young held off sophomore Aaron Terrazas finish 1UP. Terrazas had the lead going into hole No. 15, but Young earned the edge by winning two of the final four holes.

The reigning C-USA Golfer of the Year Frederik Dreier, the Miners' lone senior, was in a back and forth match with Charlotte's John Gough. All squared through 10 holes, Dreier won three of the next five holes to take control of the dual. Gough claimed hole No. 16 to get within two, but Dreier prevailed and clinched the championship for UTEP.
 
In the Charlotte-North Texas semifinal showdown, the 49ers cruised to the first three wins to move into championship play. Purcell notched a 2UP victory over sophomore Ian Snyman to give the 49ers a 1-0 lead. Lamb and senior Andrew Hudson went back and forth until the final hole, where Lamb sealed the win. The 49ers clinched the match when Young edged senior Cory Churchman on hole No. 7 to win, 3&2.
 
The UTEP-Southern Miss semifinal saw the Miners advance to the title round after a 4-1 defeat over the Golden Eagles. UTEP's wins from Pihl, Corner, Terrazas and Sorenson advanced the Miners to the championship. Southern Miss senior Ryan Argotsinger did get the win for the Golden Eagles, 5&4.
 
The day began with a sudden death playoff between Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, as the two teams tied for fourth place following Monday's stroke play. In the first group off the tee, the Golden Eagles started off with two bogeys and a par, while the Blue Raiders carded a par and bogey to take a one-stroke advantage. When the next fivesome took the course, two Southern Miss golfers would birdie with some impressive putting to clinch the playoff win for the Golden Eagles.   
 
The 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Golf regional selections will be announced Thursday, May 4, live on the Golf Channel at 11 a.m. CT.
 
Match Play Results
Championship -- No. 1 UTEP def. No. 3 Charlotte, 3-1
Nicklas Pihl (UTEP) def. Connor Purcell (CHA), 2UP
Charles Corner (UTEP) def. Matt Lamb (CHA), 2UP
Tyler Young (CHA) def. Aaron Terrazas (UTEP), 1UP
Frederik Dreier (UTEP) def. John Gough (CHA), 2UP
Andreas Sorenson (UTEP) def. Seth Gandy (CHA), A/S
 
Semifinal 1 -- No. 1 UTEP def. No. 4 Southern Miss 4-1
Nicklas Pihl (UTEP) def. Walker Kesterson (USM), 3&2
Charles Corner (UTEP) def. Matt Lorenz (USM), 1UP
Aaron Terrazas (UTEP) def. Matt Codd (USM), 1&1
Andreas Sorenson (UTEP) def. Derick Kelting (USM), 1UP
Ryan Argotsinger (USM) def. Frederik Dreier (UTEP), 5&4
 
Semifinal 2 -- No. 3 Charlotte def. No. 2 North Texas 3-0-2
Connor Purcell (CHA) def. Ian Snyman (NT), 2UP
Matty Lamb (CHA) def. Andrew Hudson (NT), 1UP
Tyler Young (CHA) def. Cory Churchman (NT), 3&2
Thomas Rosenmueller (NT) vs John Gough (CHA), A/S thru 18(F)
Devin Jackson (NT) vs Seth Gandy (CHA), A/S thru 18(F)

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