University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, March 10
Gadsden, Ala.
University of Tennessee
vs
Chris Banister Golf Classic - Round 3
#20/21 Lady Vols, Messimer Victorious at Chris Banister Golf Classic
March 10, 2026 | Women's Golf
GADSDEN, Ala. – The No. 20/21 Tennessee women's golf team wrapped up a dominant all-around performance on Tuesday during round three of the Chris Banister Golf Classic at the RTJ Trail Golf Course at Silver Lake.
The Lady Vols claimed the team title at 5-over-par after shooting a 2-under-par 286 in round three, finishing 35 strokes ahead of runners-up Chattanooga. It ties the third-largest margin of victory in program history, with the record being 41 strokes at the 2019 FAU Winter Warm-Up.
Tennessee now has three team wins this season, matching a program record mark that has been set in three previous seasons, most recently in 2005-06. The Lady Vols also claimed victory at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate last fall and the Paradise Invitational to open the spring.
Beyond the team success, Tennessee also placed the top two individuals at the Chris Banister Golf Classic. Additionally, four Lady Vols closed the event in the top ten and all six competitors this week earned top 25 finishes.
Madison Messimer added to an already impressive freshman season with the first win of her collegiate career on Tuesday. Messimer carded the best round by any golfer in the tournament, a 4-under-par 68, in round three to finish atop the 93-golfer field. She closes the event as the only golfer under par at 2-under-par after posting nine birdies across three rounds.
The only other golfer in the field to finish par or better at the Chris Banister Golf Classic was Kyra Van Kan, who claimed runner-up honors with an even-par overall finish. The sophomore posted her best round of the week on Tuesday, closing the event with a 1-under-par 71. Van Kan concluded the tournament with 44 pars on the week to lead all golfers.
Sofie Engeseth climbed into the top ten of the final individual standings after her best round of the week on Tuesday, posting an even-par 72. The junior tallied five birdies in round three, including three consecutive on holes three through five. With a tie for seventh place at 7-over-par overall, Engeseth earns her fourth top-ten finish as a Lady Vol.
Sophie Christopher posted Tennessee's final countable score toward the team total with a 3-over-par 75 in round three. At 11-over-par overall, the sophomore tied for 18th place to earn her first top-20 finish of the season for the Lady Vols.
Despite recording a 4-over-par 76 in Tuesday's third round, Kaopan Thapasit earned her best finish of the season at the Chris Banister Golf Classic. The impressive freshman placed sixth after closing at 5-over-par overall.
Competing as an individual outside of the team lineup, Lauren Nguyen earned her second top-25 finish of the season, tying for 23rd at 14-over-par.
The Lady Vols will look to continue a successful spring campaign during the team's next outing at the Clemson Invitational, slated for March 27-29 in Sunset, South Carolina.
Chris Banister Golf Classic Results (Final)
1. Tennessee (+5)
2. Chattanooga (+40)
3. Jacksonville State (+42)
4. Longwood (+49)
5. Bradley (+60)
T-6. West Georgia (+62)
T-6. Samford (+62)
8. Troy (+69)
9. Indiana State (+72)
10. UAB (+76)
11. Akron (+77)
12. Eastern Kentucky (+79)
13. Seton Hall (+86)
14. Central Michigan (+90)
15. North Dakota (+103)
16. Jacksonville (+131)
Tennessee Results (Final)
1. Madison Messimer: 73-73-68 = 214 (-2)
2. Kyra Van Kan: 73-72-71 = 216 (E)
6. Kaopan Thapasit: 72-73-76 = 221 (+5)
T-7. Sofie Engeseth: 73-78-72 = 223 (+7)
T-18. Sophie Christopher: 78-74-75 = 227 (+11)
T-23. Lauren Nguyen (i): 72-81-77 = 230 (+14)
The Lady Vols claimed the team title at 5-over-par after shooting a 2-under-par 286 in round three, finishing 35 strokes ahead of runners-up Chattanooga. It ties the third-largest margin of victory in program history, with the record being 41 strokes at the 2019 FAU Winter Warm-Up.
Tennessee now has three team wins this season, matching a program record mark that has been set in three previous seasons, most recently in 2005-06. The Lady Vols also claimed victory at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate last fall and the Paradise Invitational to open the spring.
Beyond the team success, Tennessee also placed the top two individuals at the Chris Banister Golf Classic. Additionally, four Lady Vols closed the event in the top ten and all six competitors this week earned top 25 finishes.
Madison Messimer added to an already impressive freshman season with the first win of her collegiate career on Tuesday. Messimer carded the best round by any golfer in the tournament, a 4-under-par 68, in round three to finish atop the 93-golfer field. She closes the event as the only golfer under par at 2-under-par after posting nine birdies across three rounds.
The only other golfer in the field to finish par or better at the Chris Banister Golf Classic was Kyra Van Kan, who claimed runner-up honors with an even-par overall finish. The sophomore posted her best round of the week on Tuesday, closing the event with a 1-under-par 71. Van Kan concluded the tournament with 44 pars on the week to lead all golfers.
Sofie Engeseth climbed into the top ten of the final individual standings after her best round of the week on Tuesday, posting an even-par 72. The junior tallied five birdies in round three, including three consecutive on holes three through five. With a tie for seventh place at 7-over-par overall, Engeseth earns her fourth top-ten finish as a Lady Vol.
Sophie Christopher posted Tennessee's final countable score toward the team total with a 3-over-par 75 in round three. At 11-over-par overall, the sophomore tied for 18th place to earn her first top-20 finish of the season for the Lady Vols.
Despite recording a 4-over-par 76 in Tuesday's third round, Kaopan Thapasit earned her best finish of the season at the Chris Banister Golf Classic. The impressive freshman placed sixth after closing at 5-over-par overall.
Competing as an individual outside of the team lineup, Lauren Nguyen earned her second top-25 finish of the season, tying for 23rd at 14-over-par.
The Lady Vols will look to continue a successful spring campaign during the team's next outing at the Clemson Invitational, slated for March 27-29 in Sunset, South Carolina.
Chris Banister Golf Classic Results (Final)
1. Tennessee (+5)
2. Chattanooga (+40)
3. Jacksonville State (+42)
4. Longwood (+49)
5. Bradley (+60)
T-6. West Georgia (+62)
T-6. Samford (+62)
8. Troy (+69)
9. Indiana State (+72)
10. UAB (+76)
11. Akron (+77)
12. Eastern Kentucky (+79)
13. Seton Hall (+86)
14. Central Michigan (+90)
15. North Dakota (+103)
16. Jacksonville (+131)
Tennessee Results (Final)
1. Madison Messimer: 73-73-68 = 214 (-2)
2. Kyra Van Kan: 73-72-71 = 216 (E)
6. Kaopan Thapasit: 72-73-76 = 221 (+5)
T-7. Sofie Engeseth: 73-78-72 = 223 (+7)
T-18. Sophie Christopher: 78-74-75 = 227 (+11)
T-23. Lauren Nguyen (i): 72-81-77 = 230 (+14)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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