University of Tennessee Athletics
Monday, March 9
Gadsden, Ala.
University of Tennessee
vs
Chris Banister Golf Classic - Round 2
Photo by: Dan Lavin
#20/21 Lady Vols Hold Big Lead at Chris Banister Golf Classic
March 09, 2026 | Women's Golf
GADSDEN, Ala. – The No 20/21 Tennessee women's golf team continued a dominate performance on Monday during the second round of the Chris Banister Golf Classic at RTJ Trail Golf Course at Silver Lake.
Entering the day with a 12-stroke advantage atop the team standings, the Lady Vols fired a 4-over-par 292 to expand their lead through 36 holes. At 7-over-par, Tennessee is 22 strokes ahead of second-placed Chattanooga, which is at 29-over-par.
Multiple strong individual performances have led the Lady Vols through two rounds, with a pair tied for the individual lead at 1-over-par. Kyra Van Kan carded an even-par 72 on Tuesday, one of just eight rounds of par or better by any golfer in the tournament thus far, to climb into a tie atop the 93-golfer field. The sophomore, who already has one individual victory this season, tallied two birdies and two bogeys in round two.
Entering the day in a tie for third place, Kaopan Thapasit rose to the top of the standings alongside Van Kan with a 1-over-par 73 in round two. The freshman had an up-and-down day consisting of a team-high five birdies countered by six bogeys. At 1-over-par overall, the pair of Van Kan and Thapasit is tied with one other golfer for first place.
Not far behind for the Lady Vols is Madison Messimer, who is just one stroke out of the lead at 2-over-par through 36 holes. The prolific freshman recorded her second consecutive 1-over-par round of 73 in round two, highlighted by a 1-under-par front nine. Tied for fourth place ahead of Tuesday's final round, Messimer is firmly in contention for the first individual victory of her collegiate career.
The final countable score of round two for Tennessee was recorded by Sophie Christopher, who marked a six-stroke improvement between rounds. After a 6-over-par 78 on Sunday, the sophomore recovered with a 2-over-par 74 during Monday's second round. The improved score helped Christopher rise 22 spots in the individual standings as she is now tied for 14th place with 18 holes to play at 8-over-par.
Elsewhere for the Lady Vols, Sofie Engeseth is tied 12th place at 7-over-par and Lauren Nguyen, who is competing as an individual this week, is tied for 19th place at 9-over-par.
Tennessee will look to close out the team's third win of the season during the final round of the Chris Banister Golf Classic, which is set to begin on Tuesday morning.
Chris Banister Golf Classic Standings (Round Two)
1. Tennessee (+7)
2. Chattanooga (+29)
3. Jacksonville State (+33)
4. Troy (+38)
5. Longwood (+39)
6. Indiana State (+43)
7. Samford (+44)
8. Akron (+45)
9. West Georgia (+47)
10. Bradley (+48)
11. UAB (+52)
12. Eastern Kentucky (+57)
13. Seton Hall (+59)
14. Central Michigan (+65)
15. North Dakota (+75)
16. Jacksonville (+88)
Tennessee Results (Round Two)
T-1. Kyra Van Kan: 73-72 = 145 (+1)
T-1. Kaopan Thapasit: 72-73 = 145 (+1)
T-4. Madison Messimer: 73-73 = 146 (+2)
T-12. Sofie Engeseth: 73-78 = 151 (+7)
T-14. Sophie Christopher: 78-74 = 152 (+8)
T-19. Lauren Nguyen (i): 72-81 = 153 (+9)
Entering the day with a 12-stroke advantage atop the team standings, the Lady Vols fired a 4-over-par 292 to expand their lead through 36 holes. At 7-over-par, Tennessee is 22 strokes ahead of second-placed Chattanooga, which is at 29-over-par.
Multiple strong individual performances have led the Lady Vols through two rounds, with a pair tied for the individual lead at 1-over-par. Kyra Van Kan carded an even-par 72 on Tuesday, one of just eight rounds of par or better by any golfer in the tournament thus far, to climb into a tie atop the 93-golfer field. The sophomore, who already has one individual victory this season, tallied two birdies and two bogeys in round two.
Entering the day in a tie for third place, Kaopan Thapasit rose to the top of the standings alongside Van Kan with a 1-over-par 73 in round two. The freshman had an up-and-down day consisting of a team-high five birdies countered by six bogeys. At 1-over-par overall, the pair of Van Kan and Thapasit is tied with one other golfer for first place.
Not far behind for the Lady Vols is Madison Messimer, who is just one stroke out of the lead at 2-over-par through 36 holes. The prolific freshman recorded her second consecutive 1-over-par round of 73 in round two, highlighted by a 1-under-par front nine. Tied for fourth place ahead of Tuesday's final round, Messimer is firmly in contention for the first individual victory of her collegiate career.
The final countable score of round two for Tennessee was recorded by Sophie Christopher, who marked a six-stroke improvement between rounds. After a 6-over-par 78 on Sunday, the sophomore recovered with a 2-over-par 74 during Monday's second round. The improved score helped Christopher rise 22 spots in the individual standings as she is now tied for 14th place with 18 holes to play at 8-over-par.
Elsewhere for the Lady Vols, Sofie Engeseth is tied 12th place at 7-over-par and Lauren Nguyen, who is competing as an individual this week, is tied for 19th place at 9-over-par.
Tennessee will look to close out the team's third win of the season during the final round of the Chris Banister Golf Classic, which is set to begin on Tuesday morning.
Chris Banister Golf Classic Standings (Round Two)
1. Tennessee (+7)
2. Chattanooga (+29)
3. Jacksonville State (+33)
4. Troy (+38)
5. Longwood (+39)
6. Indiana State (+43)
7. Samford (+44)
8. Akron (+45)
9. West Georgia (+47)
10. Bradley (+48)
11. UAB (+52)
12. Eastern Kentucky (+57)
13. Seton Hall (+59)
14. Central Michigan (+65)
15. North Dakota (+75)
16. Jacksonville (+88)
Tennessee Results (Round Two)
T-1. Kyra Van Kan: 73-72 = 145 (+1)
T-1. Kaopan Thapasit: 72-73 = 145 (+1)
T-4. Madison Messimer: 73-73 = 146 (+2)
T-12. Sofie Engeseth: 73-78 = 151 (+7)
T-14. Sophie Christopher: 78-74 = 152 (+8)
T-19. Lauren Nguyen (i): 72-81 = 153 (+9)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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