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
#20/21 Lady Vols Hold 12-Stroke Lead at Chris Banister Golf Classic
March 08, 2026 | Women's Golf
GADSDEN, Ala. – The No. 20/21 Tennessee women's golf team began its third tournament of the spring season on Sunday at the Chris Banister Golf Classic, with round one contested at RTJ Trail Golf Course at Silver Lake.
The Lady Vols began the event on the right foot, holding a 12-stroke lead atop the team standings after firing a 3-over-par 291 in round one. Indiana State sits in second place ahead of tomorrow's second round at 15-over-par. With a strong day all around, Tennessee has five individuals in the top ten with 36 holes to play.
Kaopan Thapasit continued a strong start to the spring, carding an even-par 72 to open the Chris Banister Golf Classic. The freshman tallied a team-high three birdies on the day en route to posting the lowest score countable toward the round one Tennessee team total and her eighth round of par or better this season.
Competing as an individual outside of the team lineup this week, Lauren Nguyen matched Thapasit's score with an even-par 72 of her own. The senior recorded her third round of par or better this season after a clean 18 holes featuring two birdies and just two bogeys on Sunday. Alongside Thapasit, Nguyen is tied for third place individually among the field of 93 and just two strokes behind the 18-hole individual leader.
Kyra Van Kan, Madison Messimer, and Sofie Engesaeth rounded out the Tennessee lineup in round one with three 1-over-par rounds of 73 to sit just one stroke behind Thapasit and Nguyen. Despite not holing a single birdie on Sunday, Van Kan tallied 17 pars on the day to lead all golfers in the field. Messimer recorded two early birdies in her round, before three bogeys pushed her back above par. Engesaeth battled back from two bogeys on the front nine, with a 1-under-par back nine to close the day with a 73.
The Tennessee trio at 1-over-par are tied for seventh place after round one, three strokes behind the individual leader.
The Lady Vols will look to follow up Sunday's performance during round two of the Chris Banister Golf Classic on Monday, with Tennessee's tee times set to begin at 10:51 a.m. EST.
Chris Banister Golf Classic Standings (Round One)
1. Tennessee (+3)
2. Indiana State (+15)
3. Longwood (+17)
4. Chattanooga (+18)
5. Seton Hall (+19)
T-6. Akron (+20)
T-6. Jacksonville State (+20)
T-6. Bradley (+20)
9. Samford (+21)
T-10. Troy (+22)
T-10. UAB (+22)
12. West Georgia (+23)
13. Eastern Kentucky (+26)
14. Central Michigan (+33)
15. North Dakota (+35)
16. Jacksonville (+42)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-3. Kaopan Thapasit: 72 (E)
T-3. Lauren Nguyen (i): 72 (E)
T-7. Kyra Van Kan: 73 (+1)
T-7. Madison Messimer: 73 (+1)
T-7. Sofie Engesaeth: 73 (+1)
T-36. Sophie Christopher: 78 (+6)
The Lady Vols began the event on the right foot, holding a 12-stroke lead atop the team standings after firing a 3-over-par 291 in round one. Indiana State sits in second place ahead of tomorrow's second round at 15-over-par. With a strong day all around, Tennessee has five individuals in the top ten with 36 holes to play.
Kaopan Thapasit continued a strong start to the spring, carding an even-par 72 to open the Chris Banister Golf Classic. The freshman tallied a team-high three birdies on the day en route to posting the lowest score countable toward the round one Tennessee team total and her eighth round of par or better this season.
Competing as an individual outside of the team lineup this week, Lauren Nguyen matched Thapasit's score with an even-par 72 of her own. The senior recorded her third round of par or better this season after a clean 18 holes featuring two birdies and just two bogeys on Sunday. Alongside Thapasit, Nguyen is tied for third place individually among the field of 93 and just two strokes behind the 18-hole individual leader.
Kyra Van Kan, Madison Messimer, and Sofie Engesaeth rounded out the Tennessee lineup in round one with three 1-over-par rounds of 73 to sit just one stroke behind Thapasit and Nguyen. Despite not holing a single birdie on Sunday, Van Kan tallied 17 pars on the day to lead all golfers in the field. Messimer recorded two early birdies in her round, before three bogeys pushed her back above par. Engesaeth battled back from two bogeys on the front nine, with a 1-under-par back nine to close the day with a 73.
The Tennessee trio at 1-over-par are tied for seventh place after round one, three strokes behind the individual leader.
The Lady Vols will look to follow up Sunday's performance during round two of the Chris Banister Golf Classic on Monday, with Tennessee's tee times set to begin at 10:51 a.m. EST.
Chris Banister Golf Classic Standings (Round One)
1. Tennessee (+3)
2. Indiana State (+15)
3. Longwood (+17)
4. Chattanooga (+18)
5. Seton Hall (+19)
T-6. Akron (+20)
T-6. Jacksonville State (+20)
T-6. Bradley (+20)
9. Samford (+21)
T-10. Troy (+22)
T-10. UAB (+22)
12. West Georgia (+23)
13. Eastern Kentucky (+26)
14. Central Michigan (+33)
15. North Dakota (+35)
16. Jacksonville (+42)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-3. Kaopan Thapasit: 72 (E)
T-3. Lauren Nguyen (i): 72 (E)
T-7. Kyra Van Kan: 73 (+1)
T-7. Madison Messimer: 73 (+1)
T-7. Sofie Engesaeth: 73 (+1)
T-36. Sophie Christopher: 78 (+6)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
WGolf | Diana Cantú | NCAA Championships - Round Three (5.18.25)
Sunday, May 18
WGolf | Bailey Davis | NCAA Championships - Round One (5.16.25)
Friday, May 16
WGolf | Diana Cantú | NCAA Championships - Round One (5.16.25)
Friday, May 16
WGolf | Diana Cantú Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Round One (10.20.24)
Sunday, October 20
