University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, February 4
Boca Raton, FL
University of Tennessee
at
FAU Paradise Invitational - Round 3
Photo by: Dan Lavin
#24/25 Lady Vols Win Paradise Invitational, Van Kan Claims Individual Title
February 04, 2026 | Women's Golf
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 24/25 Tennessee women's golf team wrapped up a dominant week at the Florida Atlantic Paradise Invitational on Wednesday with a team and individual championship.
The Lady Vols' squad posted a 5-under-par 283 in Wednesday's third round to conclude the event at 10-under-par, a four-stroke victory over runners-up Kentucky. The win marks Tennessee's second team triumph of the season, the first time the Lady Vols have won multiple team events in the same season since the 2018-19 season. Tennessee's first win of the season came in October's Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, which was hosted by the Lady Vols.
Kyra Van Kan continued a week of impeccable play to earn the first individual victory of her collegiate career, a decisive four-stroke win atop the field of 90. The sophomore carded a 3-under-par 69 in round three to improve to 10-under-par, a new career best. Additionally, her 10-under-par performance matches the third-best 54-hole score in program history, tying a similar performance by Bailey Davis at the 2022 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate.
Van Kan tallied six birdies on Wednesday to bring her tournament total to 17, four more than any other golfer in the field across 54 holes. Her four bogeys in the tournament also match the low mark across all competitors.
A Lady Vol also claimed the runner-up individual spot at the Paradise Invitational, as Madison Messimer closed the event at 6-under-par. The freshman posted a 1-under-par 71 in Wednesday's final round behind four birdies on the back nine. The finish sets a new season-best 54-hole score as well as her highest individual placement of the season at second place. Messimer has now tallied four top-ten individual finishes in the first five events of her collegiate career.
Another freshman with a stellar final round on Wednesday was Kaopan Thapasit, who posted a 5-under-par 67. Thapasit ended the day with a blemish-free scorecard, featuring five birdies and zero bogeys, to record the second-best round of the season. Competing as an individual, the Thailand native improved to a final tally of 1-under-par for the tournament, good enough to tie for 11th place.
Finishing alongside Thapasit in 11th place was Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, who posted her best round of the week on Wednesday. The senior fired a 3-under-par 69, fueled by birdies on four of her final seven holes. With her tied-11th place finish, Chotikabhukkana recorded the 22nd top-25 finish of her decorated collegiate career.
Sophie Christopher provided the final countable score for the Lady Vols on Wednesday, posting a 2-over-par 74. After bogey troubles early, the sophomore finished strong on the back nine. Christopher carded birdies on holes 13 and 15, before ending the day with an eagle on hole No. 18, which was key to closing out the team victory for Tennessee.
The Lady Vols will return to the sunshine state for the team's next even, set for Feb. 15-17 at the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida.
Paradise Invitational Standings (Final):
1. Tennessee (-10)
2. Kentucky (-6)
3. Clemson (-3)
4. Georgia (+4)
5. Oklahoma (+5)
6. Texas Tech (+8)
7. Indiana (+12)
8. Florida Atlantic (+14)
9. Colorado State (+17)
10. Rutgers (+23)
T-11. Cincinnati (+27)
T-11. Notre Dame (+27)
13. Mercer (+31)
14. Florida International (+33)
15. Denver (+37)
16. Tulane (+46)
Tennessee Results (Final):
1. Kyra Van Kan: 72-65-69 = 206 (-10)
2. Madison Messimer: 69-70-71 = 210 (-6)
T-11. Kaopan Thapasit: 75-73-67 = 215 (-1)
T-11. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 73-73-69 = 215 (-1)
T-40. Sophie Christopher: 75-74-74 = 223 (+7)
The Lady Vols' squad posted a 5-under-par 283 in Wednesday's third round to conclude the event at 10-under-par, a four-stroke victory over runners-up Kentucky. The win marks Tennessee's second team triumph of the season, the first time the Lady Vols have won multiple team events in the same season since the 2018-19 season. Tennessee's first win of the season came in October's Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, which was hosted by the Lady Vols.
Kyra Van Kan continued a week of impeccable play to earn the first individual victory of her collegiate career, a decisive four-stroke win atop the field of 90. The sophomore carded a 3-under-par 69 in round three to improve to 10-under-par, a new career best. Additionally, her 10-under-par performance matches the third-best 54-hole score in program history, tying a similar performance by Bailey Davis at the 2022 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate.
Van Kan tallied six birdies on Wednesday to bring her tournament total to 17, four more than any other golfer in the field across 54 holes. Her four bogeys in the tournament also match the low mark across all competitors.
A Lady Vol also claimed the runner-up individual spot at the Paradise Invitational, as Madison Messimer closed the event at 6-under-par. The freshman posted a 1-under-par 71 in Wednesday's final round behind four birdies on the back nine. The finish sets a new season-best 54-hole score as well as her highest individual placement of the season at second place. Messimer has now tallied four top-ten individual finishes in the first five events of her collegiate career.
Another freshman with a stellar final round on Wednesday was Kaopan Thapasit, who posted a 5-under-par 67. Thapasit ended the day with a blemish-free scorecard, featuring five birdies and zero bogeys, to record the second-best round of the season. Competing as an individual, the Thailand native improved to a final tally of 1-under-par for the tournament, good enough to tie for 11th place.
Finishing alongside Thapasit in 11th place was Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, who posted her best round of the week on Wednesday. The senior fired a 3-under-par 69, fueled by birdies on four of her final seven holes. With her tied-11th place finish, Chotikabhukkana recorded the 22nd top-25 finish of her decorated collegiate career.
Sophie Christopher provided the final countable score for the Lady Vols on Wednesday, posting a 2-over-par 74. After bogey troubles early, the sophomore finished strong on the back nine. Christopher carded birdies on holes 13 and 15, before ending the day with an eagle on hole No. 18, which was key to closing out the team victory for Tennessee.
The Lady Vols will return to the sunshine state for the team's next even, set for Feb. 15-17 at the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida.
Paradise Invitational Standings (Final):
1. Tennessee (-10)
2. Kentucky (-6)
3. Clemson (-3)
4. Georgia (+4)
5. Oklahoma (+5)
6. Texas Tech (+8)
7. Indiana (+12)
8. Florida Atlantic (+14)
9. Colorado State (+17)
10. Rutgers (+23)
T-11. Cincinnati (+27)
T-11. Notre Dame (+27)
13. Mercer (+31)
14. Florida International (+33)
15. Denver (+37)
16. Tulane (+46)
Tennessee Results (Final):
1. Kyra Van Kan: 72-65-69 = 206 (-10)
2. Madison Messimer: 69-70-71 = 210 (-6)
T-11. Kaopan Thapasit: 75-73-67 = 215 (-1)
T-11. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 73-73-69 = 215 (-1)
T-40. Sophie Christopher: 75-74-74 = 223 (+7)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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