University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, February 17
Melbourne, FL
University of Tennessee
vs
Moon Golf Invitational - Round 3
Photo by: Dan Lavin
#22/25 Lady Vols Claim Top-Five Finish at Moon Golf Invitational
February 17, 2026 | Women's Golf
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The No. 22/25 Tennessee women's golf team wrapped up its second tournament of the spring on Tuesday at the Moon Golf Invitational, with round three contested at Suntree Country Club.
The Lady Vols were able to fend off elite competition with a 4-over-par 292 to close the event at 13-over-par and in fifth place among a stacked 17-team field, which featured 12 ranked squads.
No. 8 Auburn chased down No. 6 Texas A&M to claim the team title on Tuesday, closing at 7-under-par to best the Aggies' score of 4-under-par. The other two teams to finish ahead of Tennessee were No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 7 Wake Forest, with scores of 7-over-par and 8-over-par, respectively. The Lady Vols concluded the event ahead of six teams with a current national ranking in the top 20, including No. 5 Florida and No. 9 Texas.
Manassanan Chotikabhukkana posted her best score of the week in Tuesday's third round to claim Tennessee's best 54-hole individual score of the week. The Lady Vols' star senior closed the event with a 2-under-par 70, tallying three birdies to offset one lone bogey on hole No. 9. Chotikabhukkana earns her second top-ten finish of the season, closing in seventh place among the field of 90, and the 11th of her career, building momentum in what is the final spring of her collegiate career.
Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Madison Messimer carded a 2-over-par 74 to claim a top-20 finish on Tuesday. Messimer ends the event at 2-over-par to tie for 13th place, her fourth consecutive tournament placing inside the top 20.
Kyra Van Kan shot Tennessee's second-best round on Tuesday with a 1-over-par 73, highlighted by three birdies. The sophomore closes the Moon Golf Invitational at 6-over-par, climbing to 37th place among the strong field.
Kaopan Thapasit carded the Lady Vols' final countable score in round three, with a 3-over-par 75. Tallying two birdies on the day, the freshman concludes the Moon Golf Invitational tied for 53rd place at 9-over-par.
Tennessee will return to action at the Chris Banister Golf Classic, slated for March 8-10 at RTJ Golf Trail at Silver Lakes in Gadsden, Alabama.
Moon Golf Invitational Results (Final)
1. Auburn (-7)
2. Texas A&M (-4)
3. Mississippi State (+7)
4. Wake Forest (+8)
5. Tennessee (+13)
6. Florida (+14)
7. Texas (+16)
8. Ole Miss (+20)
T-9. Duke (+21)
T-9. UCF (+21)
11. South Carolina (+24)
12. Florida State (+25)
13. LSU (+32)
14. Louisville (+37)
15. NC State (+45)
16. Virginia (+46)
17. Alabama (+47)
Tennessee Results (Final)
7. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 74-71-70 = 215 (-1)
T-13. Madison Messimer: 74-70-74 = 218 (+2)
T-37. Kyra Van Kan: 76-73-73 = 222 (+6)
T-49. Sophie Christopher: 76-72-76 = 224 (+8)
T-53. Kaopan Thapasit: 75-75-75 = 225 (+9)
The Lady Vols were able to fend off elite competition with a 4-over-par 292 to close the event at 13-over-par and in fifth place among a stacked 17-team field, which featured 12 ranked squads.
No. 8 Auburn chased down No. 6 Texas A&M to claim the team title on Tuesday, closing at 7-under-par to best the Aggies' score of 4-under-par. The other two teams to finish ahead of Tennessee were No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 7 Wake Forest, with scores of 7-over-par and 8-over-par, respectively. The Lady Vols concluded the event ahead of six teams with a current national ranking in the top 20, including No. 5 Florida and No. 9 Texas.
Manassanan Chotikabhukkana posted her best score of the week in Tuesday's third round to claim Tennessee's best 54-hole individual score of the week. The Lady Vols' star senior closed the event with a 2-under-par 70, tallying three birdies to offset one lone bogey on hole No. 9. Chotikabhukkana earns her second top-ten finish of the season, closing in seventh place among the field of 90, and the 11th of her career, building momentum in what is the final spring of her collegiate career.
Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Madison Messimer carded a 2-over-par 74 to claim a top-20 finish on Tuesday. Messimer ends the event at 2-over-par to tie for 13th place, her fourth consecutive tournament placing inside the top 20.
Kyra Van Kan shot Tennessee's second-best round on Tuesday with a 1-over-par 73, highlighted by three birdies. The sophomore closes the Moon Golf Invitational at 6-over-par, climbing to 37th place among the strong field.
Kaopan Thapasit carded the Lady Vols' final countable score in round three, with a 3-over-par 75. Tallying two birdies on the day, the freshman concludes the Moon Golf Invitational tied for 53rd place at 9-over-par.
Tennessee will return to action at the Chris Banister Golf Classic, slated for March 8-10 at RTJ Golf Trail at Silver Lakes in Gadsden, Alabama.
Moon Golf Invitational Results (Final)
1. Auburn (-7)
2. Texas A&M (-4)
3. Mississippi State (+7)
4. Wake Forest (+8)
5. Tennessee (+13)
6. Florida (+14)
7. Texas (+16)
8. Ole Miss (+20)
T-9. Duke (+21)
T-9. UCF (+21)
11. South Carolina (+24)
12. Florida State (+25)
13. LSU (+32)
14. Louisville (+37)
15. NC State (+45)
16. Virginia (+46)
17. Alabama (+47)
Tennessee Results (Final)
7. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 74-71-70 = 215 (-1)
T-13. Madison Messimer: 74-70-74 = 218 (+2)
T-37. Kyra Van Kan: 76-73-73 = 222 (+6)
T-49. Sophie Christopher: 76-72-76 = 224 (+8)
T-53. Kaopan Thapasit: 75-75-75 = 225 (+9)
Players Mentioned
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