Tennessee's Madison Messimer named SEC Freshman of the Year

TL;DR

Madison Messimer of Tennessee has been named SEC Freshman of the Year and received First-Team All-SEC honors. She is the first Lady Vols player to win this award since 2003.

Key points

Madison Messimer named SEC Freshman of the Year
Received First-Team All-SEC honors
Fourth Lady Vols golfer to win the award
First Tennessee player to win since 2003
Finished in top 10 in seven tournaments this season

Mentioned in this story

TennesseeVioleta RetamozaDiana Cantu

Madison MessimerLady Vols

Tennessee women's golfer Madison Messimer was named SEC Freshman of the Year when the league announced its postseason awards on Friday.

Messimer also received First-Team All-SEC honors, while Kyra Van Kan earned second-team recognition.

Messimer is the fourth Lady Vols' golfer to win the SEC Freshman of the Year award. She is the first Tennessee player to claim the honor since Violeta Retamoza in 2003. All three Lady Vols who won the award achieved All-America honors during their career.

Messimer and Van Kan are the 35th and 36th Tennessee women's golfers to be named to an All-SEC team in program history, improving the Lady Vols' total of All-SEC selections to 63. They are the first Lady Vols to appear on an All-SEC team since 2020. Messimer and Van Kan are also the first all-conference players under head coach Diana Cantu.

Messimer has finished in the top 10 during seven tournaments this season. She also won the Chris Banister Golf Classic, leading Tennessee to the tournament team championship.

More: Tennessee golf wins first SEC championship in program history

April 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jackson Herrington reacts after a putt second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.