CHARLESTON, S.C. – The No. 17 Tennessee women’s golf team is in the lead at the Cougar Classic at Yeamans Hall Club after 36 holes of play.
UT shot 19-under through two rounds, which marks the lowest 36-hole score in program history in relation to par. The Lady Vols posted an 8-under showing in round one and went even lower in the second round with an 11-under score. Birdies were plentiful on day one as the squad registered 38 total. Additionally, Tennessee led the field in par-4 scoring Monday with a 3.91 average.
Junior Sofie Engeseth led the way for the Big Orange on Monday after carding a 2-under 69 to open the tournament and a 4-under 67 in her second 18 holes of the day. Engeseth played the par-4s at 4-under and even holds the second-most birdies in the field with 11. Engeseth enters the final round tied for second place at 6-under overall.
Sophomore Kyra Van Kan is just one shot behind Engesth at 5-under and is currently tied for eighth. Van Kan gave Tennessee its best round-one score after carding a 3-under 68. She then followed it up with a 2-under 69. Van Kan’s day was highlighted by an eagle on the ninth hole in her second round.
Junior Manassanan Chotikabhukkana and Freshman Thitikarn Thapasit also were in red numbers in each of Saturday’s rounds and are 4-under overall and tied for 11th going in to the final day. Chotikabhukkana notched a 1-under 70 and 3-under 68 as Thapasit recorded a pair of 2-under 69s.
Freshman Madison Messimer, the final member of UT’s lineup, shot a 72 in round one and a second-round 74.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Tennessee, -19
2. Ole Miss, -16
3. Clemson, -15
4. Florida, -11
5. UCF, -10
6. LSU, -6
7. Boston College, -5
8. Charleston, -4
9. Virginia Tech, -2
10. Furman, +1
11. Auburn, +6
T12. Penn State, +11
T12. Maryland, +11
14. Miami, +12
15. Georgia, +13
16. NC State, +16
17. Yale, +19
18. Georgetown, +28
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
T2. Sofie Engeseth, 69-67–136 (-6)
T8. Kyra Van Kan, 68-69–137 (-5)
T11. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, 70-68–138 (-4)
T11. Thitikarn Thapasit, 69-69–138 (-4)
T60. Madison Messimer, 72-74–146 (+4)
