University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, February 3
Boca Raton, FL
University of Tennessee
at
FAU Paradise Invitational - Round 2
Photo by: Drew Garrison/Tennessee Athletics
#24/25 Lady Vols Lead Paradise Invitational Behind Van Kan’s Big Day
February 03, 2026 | Women's Golf
BOCA RATON – Fla. The No. 24/25 Tennessee women's golf team holds a one-stroke lead with 18 holes remaining at the Florida Atlantic Paradise Invitational.
The Lady Vols tallied a 6-under-par 282 on Tuesday at Osprey Point Golf Course behind a historic day by sophomore Kyra Van Kan, who recorded a bogey-free 7-under-par 65.
At 5-under-par as a team with one round to play, Tennessee holds a one-stroke advantage over second-place Kentucky, the leader going into the day on Tuesday. The Lady Vols and Wildcats are the only two teams with 36-hole scores under par, as third-place Georgia currently sits at 3-over-par.
Tennessee is seeking the team's second win of the season, after claiming the title on home soil at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate in the fall.
A new career-best single round score for Van Kan, the mark also matches the fifth best single round score in program history. Additionally, at 7-over-par overall through two rounds, it is tied for the 12th best 36-hole start in Lady Vols' history.
Van Kan started her round on the right foot, carding birdies on two of her opening three holes. Following six consecutive pars to close the front nine, the South Africa native embarked on a 5-under-par back-nine, including three consecutive birdies on holes 15 through 17. Van Kan was inches away from a fourth consecutive birdie on hole No. 18 but ended with a par to close a blemish-free second round.
At 7-under-par, Van Kan holds a two-stroke lead atop a field of 90 with 18 holes to play. Additionally, her total of 11 birdies in the event leads the field.
Tied for the lead coming into the day, Madison Messimer had another strong performance on Tuesday to remain in the hunt for the individual title, sitting in second place and only trailing Van Kan. The freshman tallied a 2-under-par 70 in round two, including three birdies and just one bogey, to improve her tournament total to 5-under-par.
Manassanan Chotikabhukkana also remains in the top 20 for the Lady Vols after firing a 1-over-par 73 on Tuesday. The senior started her second round with a 1-under-par bogey-free front nine, before recovering from three back-nine bogeys with a birdie on hole No. 18. At 2-over-par overall, Chotikabhukkana is tied for 16th place entering Wednesday's third and final round.
Sophie Christopher rounded out the countable team scores for Tennessee with a 2-over-par 74 in round two. The sophomore got off to a strong start on Tuesday, recording six birdies on her opening ten holes, before bogey troubles on the back nine. At 5-over-par, Christopher is tied for 38th through 36 holes of the Paradise Invitational.
Kaopan Thapasit completed an impressive day for the Lady Vols with a solid second round competing as an individual. The freshman closed the day with a 1-over-par 73, tallying two birdies to just three bogeys. Thapasit is tied for 28th place at 4-over-par with 18 holes remaining.
Tennessee will look to close out team and individual titles on Wednesday at the Paradise Invitational, with third round tee times set to begin at 9:15 a.m. EST.
Paradise Invitational Standings (Round 2)
1. Tennessee (-5)
2. Kentucky (-4)
3. Georgia (+3)
4. Clemson (+4)
5. Oklahoma (+8)
6. Colorado State (+11)
7. Texas Tech (+14)
T-8. Notre Dame (+15)
T-8. Florida Atlantic (+15)
10. Indiana (+16)
11. Mercer (+20)
12. Rutgers (+21)
13. Florida International (+23)
14. Cincinnati (+29)
15. Denver (+31)
16. Tulane (+32)
Tennessee Results (Round 2)
1. Kyra Van Kan: 72-65 = 137 (-7)
2. Madison Messimer: 69-70 = 139 (-5)
T-16. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 73-73 = 146 (+2)
T-28. Kaopan Thapasit (i): 75-73 = 148 (+4)
T-38. Sophie Christopher: 75-74 = 149 (+5)
T-79. Martina Lopez-Lanchares: 77-79 = 156 (+12)
The Lady Vols tallied a 6-under-par 282 on Tuesday at Osprey Point Golf Course behind a historic day by sophomore Kyra Van Kan, who recorded a bogey-free 7-under-par 65.
At 5-under-par as a team with one round to play, Tennessee holds a one-stroke advantage over second-place Kentucky, the leader going into the day on Tuesday. The Lady Vols and Wildcats are the only two teams with 36-hole scores under par, as third-place Georgia currently sits at 3-over-par.
Tennessee is seeking the team's second win of the season, after claiming the title on home soil at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate in the fall.
A new career-best single round score for Van Kan, the mark also matches the fifth best single round score in program history. Additionally, at 7-over-par overall through two rounds, it is tied for the 12th best 36-hole start in Lady Vols' history.
Van Kan started her round on the right foot, carding birdies on two of her opening three holes. Following six consecutive pars to close the front nine, the South Africa native embarked on a 5-under-par back-nine, including three consecutive birdies on holes 15 through 17. Van Kan was inches away from a fourth consecutive birdie on hole No. 18 but ended with a par to close a blemish-free second round.
At 7-under-par, Van Kan holds a two-stroke lead atop a field of 90 with 18 holes to play. Additionally, her total of 11 birdies in the event leads the field.
Tied for the lead coming into the day, Madison Messimer had another strong performance on Tuesday to remain in the hunt for the individual title, sitting in second place and only trailing Van Kan. The freshman tallied a 2-under-par 70 in round two, including three birdies and just one bogey, to improve her tournament total to 5-under-par.
Manassanan Chotikabhukkana also remains in the top 20 for the Lady Vols after firing a 1-over-par 73 on Tuesday. The senior started her second round with a 1-under-par bogey-free front nine, before recovering from three back-nine bogeys with a birdie on hole No. 18. At 2-over-par overall, Chotikabhukkana is tied for 16th place entering Wednesday's third and final round.
Sophie Christopher rounded out the countable team scores for Tennessee with a 2-over-par 74 in round two. The sophomore got off to a strong start on Tuesday, recording six birdies on her opening ten holes, before bogey troubles on the back nine. At 5-over-par, Christopher is tied for 38th through 36 holes of the Paradise Invitational.
Kaopan Thapasit completed an impressive day for the Lady Vols with a solid second round competing as an individual. The freshman closed the day with a 1-over-par 73, tallying two birdies to just three bogeys. Thapasit is tied for 28th place at 4-over-par with 18 holes remaining.
Tennessee will look to close out team and individual titles on Wednesday at the Paradise Invitational, with third round tee times set to begin at 9:15 a.m. EST.
Paradise Invitational Standings (Round 2)
1. Tennessee (-5)
2. Kentucky (-4)
3. Georgia (+3)
4. Clemson (+4)
5. Oklahoma (+8)
6. Colorado State (+11)
7. Texas Tech (+14)
T-8. Notre Dame (+15)
T-8. Florida Atlantic (+15)
10. Indiana (+16)
11. Mercer (+20)
12. Rutgers (+21)
13. Florida International (+23)
14. Cincinnati (+29)
15. Denver (+31)
16. Tulane (+32)
Tennessee Results (Round 2)
1. Kyra Van Kan: 72-65 = 137 (-7)
2. Madison Messimer: 69-70 = 139 (-5)
T-16. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 73-73 = 146 (+2)
T-28. Kaopan Thapasit (i): 75-73 = 148 (+4)
T-38. Sophie Christopher: 75-74 = 149 (+5)
T-79. Martina Lopez-Lanchares: 77-79 = 156 (+12)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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