#18 Lady Vols Remain in Contention to Advance at NCAA Championships Through 36 Holes

Saturday, May 23

University of Tennessee

NCAA Championship - Round 2

#18 Lady Vols Remain in Contention to Advance at NCAA Championships Through 36 Holes

May 23, 2026 | Women's Golf

CARLSBAD, Calif. – The NCAA Championships continued for the No. 18 Tennessee women's golf team on Saturday with round two contested at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa's famed North Course.

Despite shooting a 7-over-par 295 in the tournament's second round, the Lady Vols moved to a tie for 15^th place among the 30 teams competing. At 10-over-par overall, Tennessee is tied with two other teams for a top 15 place, which is the cut line to advance to round four following tomorrow's third round.

Looking further up the standings to the top eight, which is the cut line to advance to match play following round four, the Lady Vols trail eighth-placed No. 5 Texas by six strokes, with the Longhorns at 2-over-par through 36 holes.

No. 1 Stanford, who has finished first place in stroke play at the previous five NCAA Championships, took the lead in round two, improving to 12-under-par behind a 6-under-par 282 in round two.

Kyra Van Kan continued to be a leading presence for Tennessee on Saturday, carding a bogey-free 1-under-par 71. The All-SEC Second Team selection remains in the hunt for the individual national title, improving to 4-under-par through 36 holes. Van Kan trails three golfers tied for the individual lead by just two strokes ahead of round three. The sophomore is tied for seventh place among the field of 159 golfers who have competed thus far.

Making her NCAA Championship debut after entering the round two lineup as a substitute, Kaopan Thapasit provided an instant spark for the Lady Vols. The freshman posted a 2-over-par 74 for Tennessee's second-best score of the day, highlighted by an even-par back nine. Thapasit recorded birdie on hole No. 12 to help calm the waters for the Lady Vols down the stretch.

Sophie Christopher closed the day with a 3-over-par 75 for Tennessee. An eventful front nine for the sophomore featured three bogeys, which were offset by back-to-back birdies on hole No. 7 and hole No. 8. On the back nine, Christopher tallied eight pars, with a lone setback on hole No. 16, where a water ball led to a double bogey. At 4-over-par through round two, Christopher is tied for 81^st place.

The final countable score of round two for Tennessee was earned by Madison Messimer. The SEC Freshman of the Year closed an up-and-down round with a 3-over-par 75. At 5-over-par for the weekend, Messimer is tied for 94^th place.

The NCAA Championships will continue with round three on Sunday. Tennessee will look to remain within the top 15 of the team standings to extend their stay in Carlsbad through round four. The Lady Vols will tee off from hole No. 1 as follows:

Round Three Tee Times
Kaopan Thapasit – 11:20 a.m. EST (8:20 a.m. PST)
Manassanan Chotikabhukkana – 11:31 a.m. EST (8:31 a.m. PST)
Madison Messimer – 11:42 a.m. EST (8:42 a.m. PST)
Sophie Christopher – 11:53 a.m. EST (8:53 a.m. PST)
Kyra Van Kan – 12:04 p.m. EST (9:04 a.m. PST)

NCAA Championships Standings (Round Two)
1. Stanford (-12)
2. USC (-9)
3. Oklahoma State (-7)
T-4. Iowa State (E)
T-4. Arkansas (E)
T-6. SMU (+1)
T-6. Duke (+1)
8. Texas (+2)
T-9. Eastern Michigan (+5)
T-9. Arizona State (+5)
T-11. Northwestern (+6)
T-11. Florida (+6)
13. Missouri (+7)
14. Pepperdine (+9)
T-15. Tennessee (+10)
T-15. Texas A&M (+10)
T-15. Florida State (+10)
T-18. North Carolina (+11)
T-18. Wake Forest (+11)
T-20. Baylor (+12)
T-20. Auburn (+12)
T-20. Virginia (+12)
23. LSU (+13)
24. Houston (+15)
25. Ohio State (+16)
T-26. Ole Miss (+19)
T-26. Michigan State (+19)
28. Kentucky (+21)
T-29. Texas Tech (+24)
T-29. Oregon State (+24)

Tennessee Results (Round Two)
T-7. Kyra Van Kan: 69-71 = 140 (-4)
T-81. Sophie Christopher: 73-75 = 148 (+4)
T-94. Madison Messimer: 74-75 = 149 (+5)
T-116. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 75-76 = 151 (+7)
Kaopan Thapasit: XX-74 (+2)
Sofie Engesaeth: 77-XX (+5)