University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, October 4
Knoxville, Tenn.
University of Tennessee
vs
Mercedes Benz Intercollegiate - Round 1
Messimer Leads No. 16 Lady Vols Through Round One of Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate
October 04, 2026 | Women's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 16 Tennessee women's golf team began its 29th annual home tournament on Sunday with round one of the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate at Cherokee Country Club.
The Lady Vols fired a 4-under-par 280 to sit tied for third place among the field of 15 teams through 18 holes of play. High Point concluded round one with the low score of the day, carding an 11-under-par 273. Baylor sits in second place with a first-round 8-under-par 276. South Florida rounds out the top three tied with Tennessee for third place at 4-under-par.
Madison Messimer led the Lady Vols with a season-low score in round one. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year fired a 4-under-par 67, her first round in the 60s of the Fall, to sit alone in second place among the 81-golfer field. After a bogey on her opening hole, Messimer went bogey-free over her final 17 holes of the round, tallying five birdies in the process. Messimer is just one stroke behind the individual lead entering round two on Monday.
Sophie Christopher recorded the second-best score among the Lady Vols in the team lineup on Sunday, posting a 1-under-par 70. The junior had four birdies to outweigh three bogeys on the day, allowing her to finish with one of 18 opening round scores under par. Christopher is tied for 16th place with 36 holes to play.
Despite competing as an individual outside of the team lineup this week, Tanjira Issaraphon impressed in round one of the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate. The freshman matched Christopher with a 1-under-par 70 of her own, tallying birdies on four of her first eight holes. Issaraphon is also tied for 16th place ahead of Monday's second round.
An Le Chuc posted Tennessee's fourth round of par or better on Sunday, wrapping up the opening round with an even-par 71. The freshman from Vietnam was fueled by three birdies on her opening nine holes. Chuc is tied for 19th place with two rounds remaining at Cherokee Country Club.
Sofie Engesæth earned the final countable team score for Tennessee in round one, closing with two birdies on her final three holes to claim a 1-over-par 72. The senior is tied for 28th place through one round of play.
The Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate will continue with round two on Monday at Cherokee Country Club. Tee times for the Lady Vols are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate Standings (Round One)
1. High Point (-11)
2. Baylor (-8)
T-3. Tennessee (-4)
T-3. USF (-4)
T-5. East Carolina (+2)
T-5. South Alabama (+2)
7. Abilene Christian (+6)
8. FIU (+8)
9. East Tennessee State (+9)
10. Campbell (+11)
11. Western Kentucky (+13)
12. Kennesaw State (+14)
13. Eastern Kentucky (+17)
14. Chattanooga (+25)
15. Charleston Southern (+26)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
2. Madison Messimer: 67 (-4)
T-16. Sophie Christopher: 70 (-1)
T-16. Tanjira Issaraphon (i): 70 (-1)
T-19. An Le Chuc: 71 (E)
T-28. Sofie Engesæth: 72 (+1)
T-28. Martina Lopez-Lanchares: 72 (+1)
T-34. Kyra Van Kan: 73 (+2)
The Lady Vols fired a 4-under-par 280 to sit tied for third place among the field of 15 teams through 18 holes of play. High Point concluded round one with the low score of the day, carding an 11-under-par 273. Baylor sits in second place with a first-round 8-under-par 276. South Florida rounds out the top three tied with Tennessee for third place at 4-under-par.
Madison Messimer led the Lady Vols with a season-low score in round one. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year fired a 4-under-par 67, her first round in the 60s of the Fall, to sit alone in second place among the 81-golfer field. After a bogey on her opening hole, Messimer went bogey-free over her final 17 holes of the round, tallying five birdies in the process. Messimer is just one stroke behind the individual lead entering round two on Monday.
Sophie Christopher recorded the second-best score among the Lady Vols in the team lineup on Sunday, posting a 1-under-par 70. The junior had four birdies to outweigh three bogeys on the day, allowing her to finish with one of 18 opening round scores under par. Christopher is tied for 16th place with 36 holes to play.
Despite competing as an individual outside of the team lineup this week, Tanjira Issaraphon impressed in round one of the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate. The freshman matched Christopher with a 1-under-par 70 of her own, tallying birdies on four of her first eight holes. Issaraphon is also tied for 16th place ahead of Monday's second round.
An Le Chuc posted Tennessee's fourth round of par or better on Sunday, wrapping up the opening round with an even-par 71. The freshman from Vietnam was fueled by three birdies on her opening nine holes. Chuc is tied for 19th place with two rounds remaining at Cherokee Country Club.
Sofie Engesæth earned the final countable team score for Tennessee in round one, closing with two birdies on her final three holes to claim a 1-over-par 72. The senior is tied for 28th place through one round of play.
The Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate will continue with round two on Monday at Cherokee Country Club. Tee times for the Lady Vols are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate Standings (Round One)
1. High Point (-11)
2. Baylor (-8)
T-3. Tennessee (-4)
T-3. USF (-4)
T-5. East Carolina (+2)
T-5. South Alabama (+2)
7. Abilene Christian (+6)
8. FIU (+8)
9. East Tennessee State (+9)
10. Campbell (+11)
11. Western Kentucky (+13)
12. Kennesaw State (+14)
13. Eastern Kentucky (+17)
14. Chattanooga (+25)
15. Charleston Southern (+26)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
2. Madison Messimer: 67 (-4)
T-16. Sophie Christopher: 70 (-1)
T-16. Tanjira Issaraphon (i): 70 (-1)
T-19. An Le Chuc: 71 (E)
T-28. Sofie Engesæth: 72 (+1)
T-28. Martina Lopez-Lanchares: 72 (+1)
T-34. Kyra Van Kan: 73 (+2)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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