BILLINGS, Mont. – Announcing his first men's golf signing for the 2022-23 academic year on Wednesday, Montana State University Billings head coach Adam Buie introduced Carson Garner as the newest Yellowjacket.
 
Garner is a transfer from University of Arkansas Monticello – Buie's previous school – where he competed at the NCAA Division II level for two seasons from 2020-22. "I am thrilled Carson has decided to follow me up to MSUB," said Buie, who coached Garner as a freshman during the 2020-21 academic year at UAM. "He is a great student-athlete majoring in education and will be a perfect fit for our team. He is a very reliable student-athlete that gets it done in the classroom and on the golf course. Carson comes from a great golf family, and they are even better people. Both his brother and sister competed at Arkansas State in golf, and he is following in their steps at a high level."
 
Garner is coming off a strong sophomore campaign with the Weevils, where he competed as the team's No. 1 player in four fall events in 2021. Garner's top performance came at the Derrall Foreman Invitational, where he carded a three-round total of 5-under-par 211 (72-69-70). He finished his sophomore campaign with a scoring average of 73.1 strokes per round. As a freshman in 2020-21, Garner competed in all seven of the team's events and capped his debut collegiate season by taking ninth in the Great American Conference Championships.
 
"He was a standout player from day one as a freshman for me at UAM in the 2020-21 season and made every travel five we played," Buie said. "This year he progressed to an even lower scoring average at just over 73 per round. When he made a visit here in December, he meshed well with the players and he is another piece to add to our already deep roster for next year."
 
A decorated prep career at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, Ark., preceded Garner's first collegiate stop, as he was a four-year letterwinner on the golf team. Garner was a three-time all-state selection, four-time all-conference pick, and was a player of the year finalist as a junior and senior. His senior season highlights included tying the school record with a 6-under-par 66 in Bryant, Ark., and winning the individual Arkansas 6A South conference title by shooting a 4-under-par 68. Garner holds the course record at Coronado Golf Club in his hometown, and also tied for 10th at the U.S. amateur Qualifier with a 5-under-par 139 (70-69).
 
"I played for Coach Buie my freshman year at UAM, and in that time it was clear that I did not want to play for anyone else," Garner said. "When he made the move to Billings, he brought me up for an official visit, and I immediately fell in love with the campus and city. After meeting the team and athletic staff, I knew that this is where I needed to be. The atmosphere here is amazing, and the school is even better. I can't wait to compete with these guys, and I'm blessed to call myself a Yellowjacket."