By Lohan Sutton
Tennessee women’s golf etched their name in the history books with a commanding third victory of the season at the Chris Banister Golf Classic, crushing the competition by a staggering 35-stroke margin.
Entering the week as ranked No. 21 nationally, this powerhouse Volunteers squad has been firing on all cylinders, establishing themselves as one of the nation’s elite programs.
They have notched wins at both the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate and FAU Paradise Invitational, plus top five finishes at the Cougar Classic, Canadian Collegiate, and Moon Golf Invitational.
This week’s showdown did nothing to halt their unstoppable momentum.
The Lady Vols exploded out of the gates in round one, seizing an early lead. Freshman Kaopan Thapasit paced the team with a rock solid even-par performance, backed by strong counting scores from Madison Messimer, Kyra Van Kan, and Sofie Engesæth, propelling Tennessee to a team total of 3-over-par.
By the end of day one, the Vols held a dominant 15-stroke advantage over second place Longwood.
Round two saw the Volunteers keep the pedal to the metal, carding a team score of 4-over-par. Van Kan led the charge with a even-par score, while Messimer and Thapasit each delivered 1-over-par performances.
Chattanooga clawed into second with a 11-over-par effort, but they remained a distant 22 strokes behind the Lady Vols.
After two rounds, Tennessee had all six players locked inside the top 20, a testament to their depth.
Van Kan and Thapasit shared the individual lead, with Messimer just one shot back.
The final round was a masterclass in dominance, as Tennessee fired a 2-under-par to seal the deal, extending their lead to an untochable 35-strokes over Chattanooga.
Tournament Leaderboard:
1. Tennessee, +5
2. Chattanooga, +40
3. Jax State, +42
4. Longwood, +49
5. Bradley, +60
T6. West Georgia, +62
T6. Samford, +62
8. Troy, +69
9. Indiana State, +72
10. UAB, +76
11. Akron, +77
12. Eastern Kentucky, +79
13. Seton Hall, +86
14. Central Michigan, +90
15. North Dakota, +103
16. Jacksonville, +131
The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native and freshman phenom Madison Messimer saved her best for last, scorching the course with a 4-under-par final round that featured just one bogey. She vaulted to the top, claiming the individual honors and her first collegiate win as a Volunteer.
Messimer’s season has been electric, boasting four top 10 finishes, including a runner-up spot at the FAU Paradise Invitational.
Van Kan capped her tournament with a 1-under-par third round, securing a runner-up finish. Her spring surge continues after capturing a victory at the FAU Paradise Invitational.
Thapasit and Engesæth also finished strong, rounding out top 10 performances.
Tennessee Leaderboard:
1. Madison Messimer, -2
2. Kyra Van Kan, E
6. Kaopan Thapasit, +5
T7. Sofie Engesæth, +7
T18. Sophie Christopher, +3
T23. Lauren Nguyen (IND), +14
This victory marks head coach Diana Cantú’s third tournament title of the season, her most ever at Tennessee. It is also the program’s first three-win campaign since the 2005-2006 season, under Judi Pavon.
Hot off this win, the Volunteers have jumped to No. 19 in the national rankings.
With just two events remaining before the SEC Championship, the Tennessee women’s golf team is primed for more at the Clemson Invitational, March 27-29, at The Reserve at Lake Keowee, in Sunset, South Carolina.