University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, February 15
Melbourne, FL
University of Tennessee
vs
Moon Golf Invitational - Round 1
Photo by: Dan Lavin
#22/25 Lady Vols in Ninth Through 18 Holes of Moon Golf Invitational
February 15, 2026 | Women's Golf
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The No. 22/25 Tennessee women's golf team began its second tournament of the spring season on Sunday at the highly-competitive Moon Golf Invitational.
The Lady Vols sit in ninth place among the 17-team field, which features 12 top-25 squads, after posting an 11-over-par 299 in round one at Suntree Country Club.
No. 6 Texas A&M leads the tournament through 18 holes as the only team under par, carding a 3-under-par 285 on the day. The Aggies hold a seven-stroke lead over No. 8 Auburn, which is in second place at 3-over-par. No. 5 Florida, No. 7 Wake Forest, and No. 9 Texas are tied for third place at 5-over-par.
Tennessee's best rounds on Monday came from Madison Messimer and Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, who each tallied a 2-over-par 74. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, Messimer, recorded 14 pars on Sunday and used a birdie on hole No. 12 to offset three bogeys on the day. Chotikabhukkana matched those tallies, with her birdie coming on hole No. 15.
On a day where just eight individuals carded scores under par, Mississippi State's Izzy Pellot holds the individual lead at 3-under-par after round one, five strokes ahead of Messimer and Chotikabhukkana. The Tennessee duo is tied for 29th place among the 90-golfer field entering Monday's second round.
Kaopan Thapasit followed the pair closely on Sunday, recording a 3-over-par 75 to open the Moon Golf Invitational. The freshman tallied two birdies to claim the Lady Vols' third countable score of the day and sits tied for 40th place through 18 holes.
Sophie Christopher and Kyra Van Kan tied for Tennessee's final score countable toward the team total in round one, each shooting a 4-over-par 76. Christopher and Van Kan are tied for 50th place ahead of round two on Monday.
The reigning SEC Golfer of the Week, Van Kan, encountered bogey trouble on her opening nine holes of the day, where she finished 5-over-par. She closed the round strong on her final nine holes, where she tallied three birdies to go 1-under-par in the stretch, the only half round under par by a Lady Vol on Sunday.
Tennessee will continue the Moon Golf Invitational with round two on Monday. Tee-times are set to begin at 8 a.m. EST from hole No. 1 and hole No. 10.
Moon Golf Invitational Standings (Round 1)
1. Texas A&M (-3)
2. Auburn (+4)
T-3. Texas (+5)
T-3. Florida (+5)
T-3. Wake Forest (+5)
6. Florida State (+7)
7. Mississippi State (+9)
8. Duke (+10)
9. Tennessee (+11)
T-10. Ole Miss (+12)
T-10. Alabama (+12)
T-10. South Carolina (+12)
13. UCF (+13)
T-14. Louisville (+14)
T-14. LSU (+14)
16. NC State (+18)
17. Virginia (+22)
Tennessee Results (Round 1)
T-29. Madison Messimer: 74 (+2)
T-29. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 74 (+2)
T-40. Kaopan Thapasit: 75 (+3)
T-50. Kyra Van Kan: 76 (+4)
T-50. Sophie Christopher: 76 (+4)
The Lady Vols sit in ninth place among the 17-team field, which features 12 top-25 squads, after posting an 11-over-par 299 in round one at Suntree Country Club.
No. 6 Texas A&M leads the tournament through 18 holes as the only team under par, carding a 3-under-par 285 on the day. The Aggies hold a seven-stroke lead over No. 8 Auburn, which is in second place at 3-over-par. No. 5 Florida, No. 7 Wake Forest, and No. 9 Texas are tied for third place at 5-over-par.
Tennessee's best rounds on Monday came from Madison Messimer and Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, who each tallied a 2-over-par 74. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, Messimer, recorded 14 pars on Sunday and used a birdie on hole No. 12 to offset three bogeys on the day. Chotikabhukkana matched those tallies, with her birdie coming on hole No. 15.
On a day where just eight individuals carded scores under par, Mississippi State's Izzy Pellot holds the individual lead at 3-under-par after round one, five strokes ahead of Messimer and Chotikabhukkana. The Tennessee duo is tied for 29th place among the 90-golfer field entering Monday's second round.
Kaopan Thapasit followed the pair closely on Sunday, recording a 3-over-par 75 to open the Moon Golf Invitational. The freshman tallied two birdies to claim the Lady Vols' third countable score of the day and sits tied for 40th place through 18 holes.
Sophie Christopher and Kyra Van Kan tied for Tennessee's final score countable toward the team total in round one, each shooting a 4-over-par 76. Christopher and Van Kan are tied for 50th place ahead of round two on Monday.
The reigning SEC Golfer of the Week, Van Kan, encountered bogey trouble on her opening nine holes of the day, where she finished 5-over-par. She closed the round strong on her final nine holes, where she tallied three birdies to go 1-under-par in the stretch, the only half round under par by a Lady Vol on Sunday.
Tennessee will continue the Moon Golf Invitational with round two on Monday. Tee-times are set to begin at 8 a.m. EST from hole No. 1 and hole No. 10.
Moon Golf Invitational Standings (Round 1)
1. Texas A&M (-3)
2. Auburn (+4)
T-3. Texas (+5)
T-3. Florida (+5)
T-3. Wake Forest (+5)
6. Florida State (+7)
7. Mississippi State (+9)
8. Duke (+10)
9. Tennessee (+11)
T-10. Ole Miss (+12)
T-10. Alabama (+12)
T-10. South Carolina (+12)
13. UCF (+13)
T-14. Louisville (+14)
T-14. LSU (+14)
16. NC State (+18)
17. Virginia (+22)
Tennessee Results (Round 1)
T-29. Madison Messimer: 74 (+2)
T-29. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 74 (+2)
T-40. Kaopan Thapasit: 75 (+3)
T-50. Kyra Van Kan: 76 (+4)
T-50. Sophie Christopher: 76 (+4)
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