By Lohan Sutton
The 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship Regionals wrapped up on Wednesday across six sites, sending the top five teams from each to the national final.
The most thrilling story came from Ridgewood Country Club in Waco, Texas, where No. 16 Tennessee mounted a dramatic comeback to earn its second consecutive berth to the NCAA Championship.
Waco Regional Final Standings
- SMU, -17
- Texas A&M, -11
- Baylor, E
- LSU, +1
- Tennessee, +7 (advanced via playoff)
A Historic Lady Vol Comeback
Seeded No. 3 in the regional and coming off their first-ever SEC Championship, Tennessee opened with promise but faced real adversity.
Tennessee opened with a 2-over-par team score in round one and sat in fourth place. Kyra Van Kan punched seven birdies for an opening round of 4-under-par and tied for the individual lead.
Round two proved to be the toughest day for the Lady Vols, finishing round two 6-over-par, dropping them to seventh place and two strokes outside the top five.
Senior Manassanan Chotikabukkana bounced back in the second round, posting a 1-under-par, sparking momentum.
Round three delivered pure drama, something this Lady Vol team is accustomed to. Entering the final round outside the cut line, Tennessee stumbled early, shooting 5-over-par on the front nine.
Then came the historic turnaround; the Lady Vols went 6-under-par on the back nine to finish the day 1-under-par. Of the four counting scores, no Lady Vol got a bogey in the final six holes.
Van Kan and Chotikabukkana finished under par in the final round.
After concluding the 54 holes, Tennessee was tied for fifth place with Tulsa at 7-over-par.
In the ensuing five-player playoff, Tennessee prevailed decisively. Van Kan and Sophie Christopher each birdied the extra hole to lead the Lady Vols to a three-stroke victory, clinching the final qualifying spot.
The Waco Regional exemplified why postseason golf is electric. One back nine, a handful of putts, and a playoff can rewrite destiny.
Standout Performances
Kyra Van Kan (T8, -3) – The sophomore All-SEC performer had an opening round 66 and went bogey-free after hole one in the final round.
Sophie Christopher (T15, +1) – Finished even par in the first two rounds and made a birdie on the playoff hole.
Manassanan Chotikabukkana (T24, +3) – Delivered four birdies in her final six holes of regulation.
Madison Messimer (T33, +6) – The SEC Freshman of the Year contributed key back-nine scoring in the final round.
No Tennessee player recorded a bogey in the final six holes of regulation, a testament to this squad’s composure under pressure.
Up Next: This advancement marks the 16th NCAA Championship appearance for the Lady Vols. Tennessee claimed its first-ever SEC Championship this season and looks to take all this momentum and heart to Carlsbad, California.
Thirty schools have advanced to the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad. Tennessee has faith, has momentum, and maybe a little luck on its side. The team knows the main goal: a national championship. The tournament will be held from May 22 through May 27.