University of Tennessee Athletics
Monday, May 11
Waco, Texas
University of Tennessee
vs
NCAA Regional - Round 1
Van Kan Leads No. 16 Lady Vols in Round One of Waco Regional
May 11, 2026 | Women's Golf
WACO, Texas – The No. 16 Tennessee women's golf team began its NCAA tournament journey with round one of the Waco Regional at Ridgewood Country Club on Monday.
The Lady Vols shot a 2-over-par 282 in the opening 18 to sit in fourth place. No. 21 SMU holds a three-stroke advantage atop the team standings as the Mustangs were the only team to open the tournament with a round under par, carding a 3-under-par 277.
A strong performance on the back nine put Tennessee in a good position relative to the projected NCAA Championship cut line, as the top five teams will advance after 54 holes of stroke play. Sixth-place LSU is five strokes behind the Lady Vols at 7-over-par.
Kyra Van Kan is tied for the individual lead at the Waco Regional after her best opening round performance of the season. The All-SEC Second Team honoree posted a 4-under-par 66 to match the best score of the day alongside two other golfers. Van Kan's seven birdies were the most by any golfer in the field of 65 on Monday.
A bogey-free back nine propelled Sophie Christopher to an even-par 70 in round one, the Lady Vols' second-best score of the day. After bogey troubles around the turn, the sophomore posted two birdies and seven pars on her final nine holes of the round. Christopher is tied for ninth place entering round two on Tuesday.
Making her NCAA Regional debut, Madison Messimer recorded a consistent opening round for Tennessee. The SEC Freshman of the Year fired a 1-over-par 71, despite 17 bogey-free holes. Messimer's lone blemish of the day came on hole No. 3, where an unfortunate bounce resulted in a triple bogey. She responded with two birdies down the stretch to sit tied for 12th place after round one.
Kaopan Thapasit and Manassanan Chotikabhukkana tied for the Lady Vols' final countable score in round one. The pair of Thailand natives each carded a 5-over-par 75 featuring one birdie and six bogeys. They are tied for 44th place with 36 holes remaining.
The Waco Regional will continue with round two on Tuesday. Tennessee is slated to tee off from hole No. 10, with tee times beginning at 9 a.m. EST.
Waco Regional Standings (Round One)
1. SMU (-3)
T-2. Texas A&M (E)
T-2. Oregon (E)
4. Tennessee (+2)
5. Tulsa (+6)
6. LSU (+7)
7. Baylor (+8)
8. Tarleton State (+10)
9. Colorado (+12)
10. TCU (+15)
11. Northern Arizona (+16)
12. Prairie View A&M (+39)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-1. Kyra Van Kan: 66 (-4)
T-9. Sophie Christopher: 70 (E)
T-12. Madison Messimer: 71 (+1)
T-44. Kaopan Thapasit: 75 (+5)
T-44. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 75 (+5)
The Lady Vols shot a 2-over-par 282 in the opening 18 to sit in fourth place. No. 21 SMU holds a three-stroke advantage atop the team standings as the Mustangs were the only team to open the tournament with a round under par, carding a 3-under-par 277.
A strong performance on the back nine put Tennessee in a good position relative to the projected NCAA Championship cut line, as the top five teams will advance after 54 holes of stroke play. Sixth-place LSU is five strokes behind the Lady Vols at 7-over-par.
Kyra Van Kan is tied for the individual lead at the Waco Regional after her best opening round performance of the season. The All-SEC Second Team honoree posted a 4-under-par 66 to match the best score of the day alongside two other golfers. Van Kan's seven birdies were the most by any golfer in the field of 65 on Monday.
A bogey-free back nine propelled Sophie Christopher to an even-par 70 in round one, the Lady Vols' second-best score of the day. After bogey troubles around the turn, the sophomore posted two birdies and seven pars on her final nine holes of the round. Christopher is tied for ninth place entering round two on Tuesday.
Making her NCAA Regional debut, Madison Messimer recorded a consistent opening round for Tennessee. The SEC Freshman of the Year fired a 1-over-par 71, despite 17 bogey-free holes. Messimer's lone blemish of the day came on hole No. 3, where an unfortunate bounce resulted in a triple bogey. She responded with two birdies down the stretch to sit tied for 12th place after round one.
Kaopan Thapasit and Manassanan Chotikabhukkana tied for the Lady Vols' final countable score in round one. The pair of Thailand natives each carded a 5-over-par 75 featuring one birdie and six bogeys. They are tied for 44th place with 36 holes remaining.
The Waco Regional will continue with round two on Tuesday. Tennessee is slated to tee off from hole No. 10, with tee times beginning at 9 a.m. EST.
Waco Regional Standings (Round One)
1. SMU (-3)
T-2. Texas A&M (E)
T-2. Oregon (E)
4. Tennessee (+2)
5. Tulsa (+6)
6. LSU (+7)
7. Baylor (+8)
8. Tarleton State (+10)
9. Colorado (+12)
10. TCU (+15)
11. Northern Arizona (+16)
12. Prairie View A&M (+39)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-1. Kyra Van Kan: 66 (-4)
T-9. Sophie Christopher: 70 (E)
T-12. Madison Messimer: 71 (+1)
T-44. Kaopan Thapasit: 75 (+5)
T-44. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana: 75 (+5)
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