University of Tennessee Athletics
Monday, October 19
Granbury, Texas
University of Tennessee
vs
Abilene Christian Intercollegiate - Round 1
Christopher and Messimer Lead #14 Lady Vols in Opening Round of Abilene Christian Intercollegiate
October 19, 2026 | Women's Golf
GRANBURY, Texas – The No. 14 Tennessee women's golf team began its final tournament of the Fall season on Monday with round one of the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate at Halbert National Golf Course.
The Lady Vols had a successful opening 18 holes of the tournament, firing a 9-under-par 279 to sit in second place among the nine-team field. No. 6 Oregon holds a three-stroke lead at 12-under-par, while No. 18 Arizona State and Louisville round out the top three knotted at even par.
Three different Lady Vols are in the top five of the individual standings through round one. Sophie Christopher and Madison Messimer both continued strong Fall seasons with a pair of 4-under-par 68s on Monday. Despite closing with the same score, the pair took very different routes to reach the low score.
Christopher's day began with a 2-over-par 38 on the front nine, before tallying birdies on six of her final nine holes to card a 6-under-par 30 on the back nine. Her seven total birdies on the day were the second-most among the 48-golfer field. The 68 matches Christopher's second-best round of the season thus far.
Messimer came out of the gate on fire, carding birdies on three of her first four holes en route to a 4-under-par 32 on the front nine. The sophomore cooled to an even-par 36 on the back nine, adding another birdie on hole No. 17. Messimer has now tallied four consecutive rounds in the 60s for Tennessee.
The duo of Christopher and Messimer are each four strokes back of the individual lead entering Tuesday's second round.
Martina Lopez-Lanchares earned her best score since last Fall during Monday's opening round. The senior from San Sebastian, Spain, closed the day with a 2-under-par 70 for her first round under par this season. Lopez-Lanchares had four birdies to just two bogeys, including birdies on two of her final four holes for a strong finish. She is tied for 5th place ahead of round two on Tuesday.
Sofie Engesæth posted the final score countable toward the Tennessee team total in round one. After a difficult start to the day in which she was 3-over-par after her opening two holes, the senior went 2-under-par over her final 16 holes to conclude the day with a 1-over-par 73. Engesæth is tied for 20th place with 36 holes to play.
The Abilene Christian Intercollegiate will continue with round two on Tuesday. Tennessee tee times are set to begin at 10:55 a.m. ET from hole No. 10. Live broadcast coverage of the round will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.
Abilene Christian Intercollegiate Standings (Round One)
1. Oregon (-12)
2. Tennessee (-9)
T-3. Arizona State (E)
T-3. Louisville (E)
5. Cincinnati (+5)
T-6. Baylor (+6)
T-6. Purdue (+6)
8. Arizona (+9)
9. Abilene Christian (+20)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-2. Sophie Christopher: 68 (-4)
T-2. Madison Messimer: 68 (-4)
T-5. Martina Lopez-Lanchares: 70 (-2)
T-20. Sofie Engesæth: 73 (+1)
T-23. Kyra Van Kan: 74 (+2)
The Lady Vols had a successful opening 18 holes of the tournament, firing a 9-under-par 279 to sit in second place among the nine-team field. No. 6 Oregon holds a three-stroke lead at 12-under-par, while No. 18 Arizona State and Louisville round out the top three knotted at even par.
Three different Lady Vols are in the top five of the individual standings through round one. Sophie Christopher and Madison Messimer both continued strong Fall seasons with a pair of 4-under-par 68s on Monday. Despite closing with the same score, the pair took very different routes to reach the low score.
Christopher's day began with a 2-over-par 38 on the front nine, before tallying birdies on six of her final nine holes to card a 6-under-par 30 on the back nine. Her seven total birdies on the day were the second-most among the 48-golfer field. The 68 matches Christopher's second-best round of the season thus far.
Messimer came out of the gate on fire, carding birdies on three of her first four holes en route to a 4-under-par 32 on the front nine. The sophomore cooled to an even-par 36 on the back nine, adding another birdie on hole No. 17. Messimer has now tallied four consecutive rounds in the 60s for Tennessee.
The duo of Christopher and Messimer are each four strokes back of the individual lead entering Tuesday's second round.
Martina Lopez-Lanchares earned her best score since last Fall during Monday's opening round. The senior from San Sebastian, Spain, closed the day with a 2-under-par 70 for her first round under par this season. Lopez-Lanchares had four birdies to just two bogeys, including birdies on two of her final four holes for a strong finish. She is tied for 5th place ahead of round two on Tuesday.
Sofie Engesæth posted the final score countable toward the Tennessee team total in round one. After a difficult start to the day in which she was 3-over-par after her opening two holes, the senior went 2-under-par over her final 16 holes to conclude the day with a 1-over-par 73. Engesæth is tied for 20th place with 36 holes to play.
The Abilene Christian Intercollegiate will continue with round two on Tuesday. Tennessee tee times are set to begin at 10:55 a.m. ET from hole No. 10. Live broadcast coverage of the round will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.
Abilene Christian Intercollegiate Standings (Round One)
1. Oregon (-12)
2. Tennessee (-9)
T-3. Arizona State (E)
T-3. Louisville (E)
5. Cincinnati (+5)
T-6. Baylor (+6)
T-6. Purdue (+6)
8. Arizona (+9)
9. Abilene Christian (+20)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-2. Sophie Christopher: 68 (-4)
T-2. Madison Messimer: 68 (-4)
T-5. Martina Lopez-Lanchares: 70 (-2)
T-20. Sofie Engesæth: 73 (+1)
T-23. Kyra Van Kan: 74 (+2)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Friday, May 08
Sunday, May 18
Friday, May 16
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