University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, March 8
Gadsden, Ala.
University of Tennessee
vs
Chris Banister Golf Classic - Round 1
Photo by: Drew Garrison/Tennessee Athletics
Preview: Chris Banister Golf Classic Up Next for #20/21 Lady Vols
March 06, 2026 | Women's Golf
The spring season rolls on for the #20/21 Tennessee women's golf team as the Lady Vols begin the Chris Banister Golf Classic on Sunday in Gadsden, Alabama.
Tennessee's third tournament of the spring, hosted by Jacksonville State, will take place at the RTJ Trail Golf Course at Silver Lakes, with one round completed each day, Sunday through Tuesday, March 8-10. The par 72 course will play between 5,900 and 6,100 yards.
The Lady Vols are riding high off a hot start to the spring season, securing back-to-back top five team finishes. Tennessee won its opening tournament of the spring at the FAU Paradise Invitational in early February for the team's second victory of the season. It marks the 11th season in program history with multiple team wins after the Lady Vols also claimed first in the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate last October.
In Tennessee's second tournament of the spring, and most recent outing, the Lady Vols finished in fifth among a strong field of 17 at the Moon Golf Invitational consisting of 12 top 25 teams. With two impressive performances to open the spring, Tennessee earned a No. 20 national ranking in last Friday's inaugural WGCA coaches' poll of the spring.
This week's appearance in the event marks the first time the Lady Vols have ever participated in the Chris Banister Golf Classic. Richmond won last year's edition of the event atop a seven-team field at 59-over-par.
Tennessee Lineup
Madison Messimer
Tennessee's star freshman carries a streak of five consecutive top 15 individual finishes into the Chris Banister Golf Classic. After a runner-up finish to open the spring at the FAU Paradise Invitational, Messimer tied for 13th among some of the nation's best golfers at the Moon Golf Invitational. Messimer has tallied 11 rounds of par or better this season and carries a 70.8 scoring average into the Lady Vols' third tournament of the spring.
Kyra Van Kan
Van Kan opened her spring as Tennessee's first individual medalist since 2019 with a dominant victory at the FAU Paradise Invitational. The sophomore from South Africa holds a 71.7 scoring average on the season, fueled by seven rounds of par or better. In her most recent outing at the Moon Golf Invitational, Van Kan tied for 37th place among the field of 90 at 6-over-par.
Sophie Christopher
Christopher has been a vital piece of the team lineup in Tennessee's strong start to the spring, tallying countable scores in four of six rounds. At the Moon Golf Invitational, Christopher tallied the fourth round of par or better in her collegiate career with an even-par 72 in round two.
Kaopan Thapasit
Thapasit has been another impressive freshman for the Lady Vols, boasting a 72.8 scoring average thus far in her debut collegiate season. The Thailand native opened the spring season with a tied 11th place finish at the FAU Paradise Invitational. In round three of the event, Thapasit matched the second-best round to par of her collegiate career with a 5-under-par 67.
Sofie Engesæth
Engesæth is set to make her first appearance of the spring for Tennessee. The junior opened last fall with a top five finish at the Cougar Classic, where she finished at 6-under-par behind three consecutive rounds of par or better. Engesæth has carded a score of par or better in 11 of her 38 rounds with the Lady Vols.
Lauren Nguyen (i)
Competing as an individual, Nguyen is set to make her third appearance with the Lady Vols after joining the program as a transfer prior to the 2025-26 season. One of just two seniors of Tennessee's roster, the highlight of Nguyen's fall was a top ten finish at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate, where she tied for ninth place at 2-under-par.
Participants
Akron (175)
Bradley (144)
Central Michigan (213)
Chattanooga (84)
Eastern Kentucky (179)
Indiana State (239)
Jacksonville (205)
Jacksonville State (166)
Longwood (157)
North Dakota (229)
Samford (177)
Seton Hall (219)
Tennessee (22)
Troy (182)
UAB (225)
West Georgia (160)
Rankings via clippd
Tennessee's third tournament of the spring, hosted by Jacksonville State, will take place at the RTJ Trail Golf Course at Silver Lakes, with one round completed each day, Sunday through Tuesday, March 8-10. The par 72 course will play between 5,900 and 6,100 yards.
The Lady Vols are riding high off a hot start to the spring season, securing back-to-back top five team finishes. Tennessee won its opening tournament of the spring at the FAU Paradise Invitational in early February for the team's second victory of the season. It marks the 11th season in program history with multiple team wins after the Lady Vols also claimed first in the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate last October.
In Tennessee's second tournament of the spring, and most recent outing, the Lady Vols finished in fifth among a strong field of 17 at the Moon Golf Invitational consisting of 12 top 25 teams. With two impressive performances to open the spring, Tennessee earned a No. 20 national ranking in last Friday's inaugural WGCA coaches' poll of the spring.
This week's appearance in the event marks the first time the Lady Vols have ever participated in the Chris Banister Golf Classic. Richmond won last year's edition of the event atop a seven-team field at 59-over-par.
Tennessee Lineup
Madison Messimer
Tennessee's star freshman carries a streak of five consecutive top 15 individual finishes into the Chris Banister Golf Classic. After a runner-up finish to open the spring at the FAU Paradise Invitational, Messimer tied for 13th among some of the nation's best golfers at the Moon Golf Invitational. Messimer has tallied 11 rounds of par or better this season and carries a 70.8 scoring average into the Lady Vols' third tournament of the spring.
Kyra Van Kan
Van Kan opened her spring as Tennessee's first individual medalist since 2019 with a dominant victory at the FAU Paradise Invitational. The sophomore from South Africa holds a 71.7 scoring average on the season, fueled by seven rounds of par or better. In her most recent outing at the Moon Golf Invitational, Van Kan tied for 37th place among the field of 90 at 6-over-par.
Sophie Christopher
Christopher has been a vital piece of the team lineup in Tennessee's strong start to the spring, tallying countable scores in four of six rounds. At the Moon Golf Invitational, Christopher tallied the fourth round of par or better in her collegiate career with an even-par 72 in round two.
Kaopan Thapasit
Thapasit has been another impressive freshman for the Lady Vols, boasting a 72.8 scoring average thus far in her debut collegiate season. The Thailand native opened the spring season with a tied 11th place finish at the FAU Paradise Invitational. In round three of the event, Thapasit matched the second-best round to par of her collegiate career with a 5-under-par 67.
Sofie Engesæth
Engesæth is set to make her first appearance of the spring for Tennessee. The junior opened last fall with a top five finish at the Cougar Classic, where she finished at 6-under-par behind three consecutive rounds of par or better. Engesæth has carded a score of par or better in 11 of her 38 rounds with the Lady Vols.
Lauren Nguyen (i)
Competing as an individual, Nguyen is set to make her third appearance with the Lady Vols after joining the program as a transfer prior to the 2025-26 season. One of just two seniors of Tennessee's roster, the highlight of Nguyen's fall was a top ten finish at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate, where she tied for ninth place at 2-under-par.
Participants
Akron (175)
Bradley (144)
Central Michigan (213)
Chattanooga (84)
Eastern Kentucky (179)
Indiana State (239)
Jacksonville (205)
Jacksonville State (166)
Longwood (157)
North Dakota (229)
Samford (177)
Seton Hall (219)
Tennessee (22)
Troy (182)
UAB (225)
West Georgia (160)
Rankings via clippd
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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