University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, April 19
University of Tennessee
vs
SEC Championship - Round 3
Photo by: Rob Davis
Messimer Earns Individual Runner Up Honors as #18 Lady Vols Advance to Match Play at SEC Championship
April 19, 2026 | Women's Golf
BELLEAIR, Fla. – A standout performance from Lady Vol freshman Madison Messimer propelled the No. 18 Tennessee women's golf team to a sixth-place finish in stroke play of the SEC Championship on Sunday.
The team recorded a 3-over-par 283 in round three on a day in which the course played tough, as only three teams posted scores under par, to close stroke play at 2-over-par.
With a top eight finish, the Lady Vols advanced to the match play quarterfinals, where they will take on Oklahoma on Monday morning. Should they advance, Tennessee will face the winner of the match between No. 5 Texas and No. 4 Texas A&M in the semifinals on Monday afternoon. Live video coverage of the event will begin from the semifinals onward via SECNetwork+.
"I'm incredibly proud of how our team played and fought today", head coach Diana Cantu said. "We knew that we needed to play well coming into the day and I thought that we did very well dealing with pressure."
Tying for runner-up honors, Messimer closed stroke play with Tennessee's best individual finish at the SEC Championship since 2011, when LVFL Erica Popson was the individual medalist. Additionally, she earned the highest individual finish by a freshman at the SEC Championship in program history.
The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native posted her third consecutive round under par with a 3-under-par 67 in round three, closing stroke play at 6-under-par to tie with three other competitors for second place. Messimer finished just two strokes behind Florida's Paula Francisco, who claimed the individual title at 8-under-par.
"Madison was crucial for us all weekend", Cantu said. "We fully believe that she is not just one of the best freshman in the country, but one of the best golfers in the country regardless of class."
Three Lady Vols tied for the next best score in round three as Kyra Van Kan, Sophie Christopher, and Manassanan Chotikabhukkana each tallied 2-over-par round of 72. This brought Van Kan's final tally to 1-over-par, tying for 19th place. Christopher ends stroke play at 3-over-par to tie for 31st place and Chotikabhukkana tied for 52nd place at 8-over-par.
Monday morning's match will begin at 8:50 a.m. EST, with staggered tee times from Hole No. 10. The match ups can be found below.
SEC Championship Match Play Quarterfinal – No. 18 Tennessee vs. Oklahoma
8:50 a.m. – Sophie Christopher vs. Reagan Chaney
9:00 a.m. – Manassanan Chotikabhukkana vs. Satonkan Thiengsri
9:10 a.m. – Sofie Engesaeth vs. Audrey Rischer
9:20 a.m. – Kyra Van Kan vs. Gracie Mayo
9:30 a.m. – Madison Messimer vs. Savannah Barber
SEC Championship Stroke Play Standings (Final)
1. Florida (-9)
T-2. Texas (-3)
T-2. Oklahoma (-3)
4. Auburn (-2)
5. Ole Miss (E)
6. Tennessee (+2)
T-7. Texas A&M (+3)
T-7. Vanderbilt (+3)
9. Missouri (+4)
T-10. South Carolina (+6)
T-10. Mississippi State (+6)
T-10. Arkansas (+6)
13. LSU (+24)
14. Kentucky (+25)
15. Georgia (+46)
16. Alabama (+48)
Tennessee Stroke Play Results (Final)
T-2. Madison Messimer: 68-69-67 = 204 (-6)
T-19. Kyra Van Kan: 74-65-72 = 211 (+1)
T-31. Sophie Christopher: 74-67-72 = 213 (+3)
T-52. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 72-74-72 = 218 (+8)
T-56. Kaopan Thapasit: 70-75-74 = 219 (+9)
The team recorded a 3-over-par 283 in round three on a day in which the course played tough, as only three teams posted scores under par, to close stroke play at 2-over-par.
With a top eight finish, the Lady Vols advanced to the match play quarterfinals, where they will take on Oklahoma on Monday morning. Should they advance, Tennessee will face the winner of the match between No. 5 Texas and No. 4 Texas A&M in the semifinals on Monday afternoon. Live video coverage of the event will begin from the semifinals onward via SECNetwork+.
"I'm incredibly proud of how our team played and fought today", head coach Diana Cantu said. "We knew that we needed to play well coming into the day and I thought that we did very well dealing with pressure."
Tying for runner-up honors, Messimer closed stroke play with Tennessee's best individual finish at the SEC Championship since 2011, when LVFL Erica Popson was the individual medalist. Additionally, she earned the highest individual finish by a freshman at the SEC Championship in program history.
The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native posted her third consecutive round under par with a 3-under-par 67 in round three, closing stroke play at 6-under-par to tie with three other competitors for second place. Messimer finished just two strokes behind Florida's Paula Francisco, who claimed the individual title at 8-under-par.
"Madison was crucial for us all weekend", Cantu said. "We fully believe that she is not just one of the best freshman in the country, but one of the best golfers in the country regardless of class."
Three Lady Vols tied for the next best score in round three as Kyra Van Kan, Sophie Christopher, and Manassanan Chotikabhukkana each tallied 2-over-par round of 72. This brought Van Kan's final tally to 1-over-par, tying for 19th place. Christopher ends stroke play at 3-over-par to tie for 31st place and Chotikabhukkana tied for 52nd place at 8-over-par.
Monday morning's match will begin at 8:50 a.m. EST, with staggered tee times from Hole No. 10. The match ups can be found below.
SEC Championship Match Play Quarterfinal – No. 18 Tennessee vs. Oklahoma
8:50 a.m. – Sophie Christopher vs. Reagan Chaney
9:00 a.m. – Manassanan Chotikabhukkana vs. Satonkan Thiengsri
9:10 a.m. – Sofie Engesaeth vs. Audrey Rischer
9:20 a.m. – Kyra Van Kan vs. Gracie Mayo
9:30 a.m. – Madison Messimer vs. Savannah Barber
SEC Championship Stroke Play Standings (Final)
1. Florida (-9)
T-2. Texas (-3)
T-2. Oklahoma (-3)
4. Auburn (-2)
5. Ole Miss (E)
6. Tennessee (+2)
T-7. Texas A&M (+3)
T-7. Vanderbilt (+3)
9. Missouri (+4)
T-10. South Carolina (+6)
T-10. Mississippi State (+6)
T-10. Arkansas (+6)
13. LSU (+24)
14. Kentucky (+25)
15. Georgia (+46)
16. Alabama (+48)
Tennessee Stroke Play Results (Final)
T-2. Madison Messimer: 68-69-67 = 204 (-6)
T-19. Kyra Van Kan: 74-65-72 = 211 (+1)
T-31. Sophie Christopher: 74-67-72 = 213 (+3)
T-52. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 72-74-72 = 218 (+8)
T-56. Kaopan Thapasit: 70-75-74 = 219 (+9)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ 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
