By Lohan Sutton
This week, the Lady Vols traveled to Aurora, Ontario, to compete in the Canadian Collegiate Invitational hosted by Michigan University.
This marks the second tournament of the season for the Lady Vols, and they are off to a strong start. The women’s team finished in fifth with a team score of 5-over par.
Weather played a factor in this tournament, cutting the event down from a 54-hole event to just 36 holes. Rain delayed Monday morning’s original starting time after just one hole had been played for the Lady Vols.
A rocky start to the tournament had the Lady Vols sitting in sixth place after round one. A strong bounce back from Tennessee was needed to climb up into the Top 5, and that is exactly what happened with all four counting scores in Tuesday’s round being at even-par or better.
This week’s tournament was a battle between No.18 Auburn and Kent State. Kent State had a three-stroke lead after round one at 7-under par., with the Tigers falling close behind at 4-under.
Auburn had a surge in the final round to claim the top spot in the tournament with a final round team score of 12-under par, catapulting Auburn into the lead. Kent State would score 3-under in the final round and would finish second in the tournament.
Tournament Results:
1. Auburn, -16
2. Kent State, -10
3. Ole Miss, +1
4. Virginia, +2
5. Tennessee, +5
6. Michigan, +8
7. USF, +26
8. Purdue, +28
9. Michigan State, +29
10. British Columbia, +35
11. Rutgers, +39
12. Central Michigan, +62
This week was a breakout performance for freshman Madison Messimer. This is Messimer’s second consecutive appearance for the Lady Vols.
Messimer would finish the tournament tied for third with Auburn’s Anne Fernandez at 5-under par. An impressive opening round of 69 by Messimer featured four birdies and only one bogey. Messimer did not slow down in the final round, shooting a 2-under round of 70.
Martina Lopez-Lanchares helped the Lady Vols with a final round of 69. Lopez-Lanchares would finish the tournament 2-over par.
Kyra Van Kan was also a factor in the final round, closing with a round of 69. Van Kan would finish the tournament 3-over par.
Lady Vols Finishers:
T3. Madison Messimer, -5
T19. Martina Lopez-Lanchares, +2
T23. Kyra Van Kan, +3
T34. Thitikarn Thapasit, +7
T34. Sofie Engeseth, +7
The Lady Vols will rest the remainder of September before hosting the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate at Cherokee Country Club Oct. 5-7. Cherokee Country Club is located just four miles west of the University of Tennessee campus. This will mark the fifth time Tennessee has hosted this event.