CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Tennessee women’s golf team wrapped up its first of four fall tournaments on Tuesday afternoon at the Cougar Classic, claiming runner-up honors at Yeamans Hall Club.
After closing at 1-under-par through 36 holes on Monday, the Lady Vols posted the team’s best round of the week in round three, carding a 5-under-par 279 to end the tournament at 6-under-par.
Florida used a strong third round to secure the team championship, finishing ten strokes ahead of Tennessee at 16-under-par. The Lady Vols finished one stroke ahead of third-placed Baylor, with the Bears closing at 5-under-par.
After a steady rise for Tennessee in the spring, junior Sophie Christopher opened the fall with one of her best collegiate performances to date. She carded a 2-under-par 69 in round three to conclude the Cougar Classic at 5-under-par. Christopher tied for runner-up honors among the field of 96, just one stroke behind the individual champion.
An Le Chuc wasted no time making an impact for Tennessee in her collegiate debut. The freshman from Vietnam secured a top-10 finish, tying for ninth place at 2-under-par behind an even-par 71 in round three. Chuc recorded seven birdies to just four bogeys across rounds two and three for the Lady Vols.
Sofie Engesæth carded her best round of the week on Tuesday to clinch a top-25 individual finish. The Norwegian senior carded a 1-under-par 70 in round three, concluding at 1-over-par overall and tying for 22nd place. Engesæth went bogey-free on her final ten holes of the day, tallying two birdies over the same stretch.
After some struggles over the first 36 holes on Monday, sophomore Kaopan Thapasit bounced back with Tennessee’s joint-highest round on Tuesday. She posted four birdies to just two bogeys to collect a 2-under-par 69 in round three. The big round saw Thapasit finish the tournament at 7-over-par, rising 19 spots in round three to a tie for 55th place.
The Lady Vols will break out the passports for the team’s next official outing, taking part in the Canadian Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 21-22. The tournament will be hosted at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario.
Cougar Classic Standings (Final)
1. Florida (-16)
2. Tennessee (-6)
3. Baylor (-5)
4. Arkansas (-1)
5. Miami (+4)
6. Furman (+5)
7. Ole Miss (+6)
8. Vanderbilt (+7)
9. Clemson (+10)
10. LSU (+13)
11. UCF (+15)
12. Charleston (+17)
13. NC State (+21)
14. Rutgers (+23)
15. Wisconsin (+24)
16. Boston College (+29)
17. Georgia (+39)
18. Charlotte (+41)
Tennessee Results (Final)
T-2. Sophie Christopher: 67-72-69 = 208 (-5)
T-9. An Le Chuc: 72-68-71 = 211 (-2)
T-22. Sofie Engesæth: 73-71-70 = 214 (+1)
T-39. Madison Messimer: 71-73-73 = 217 (+4)
T-55. Kaopan Thapasit: 74-77-69 = 220 (+7)
