Brooke Matthews (Arkansas Athletics photo)

Cullen Brown, a member of the Kentucky Wildcat golf team lost his battle with cancer earlier this summer. This week, at The Blessings Intercollegiate, Goff is carrying Brown’s bag as a sign of remembrance and respect for his friend.

Goff is playing inspired golf this week, and even more so, he’s playing exceptionally. Turning in a 3-under 69 in Monday’s opening round, Goff found himself just one shot back of the leader, Tennessee’s Hunter Wolcott.

Then, things clicked on Tuesday.

Posting a pedestrian 1-under on the back nine (his first nine), Goff was simply unconscious as he played his final nine holes. Four straight birdies from hole Nos. 3-5 and adding two more birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 before missing a solid birdie chance for a 29, Goff took command of a four stroke lead at 10 under.

On the team side, Goff’s Wildcats are just four shots back of Alabama who rode a 6-under 282 to the lead. The Crimson Tide’s Tuesday secured low-round honors for the day on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Tennessee separates Alabama and Kentucky from each other as they fell from their perch with a 7-over 295.

Notables: Wilson Furr, Alabama (T-9, -2); John Augenstein, Vanderbilt (T-20, +2), Sam Bennett, Texas A&M (T-18, +1); Ricky Castillo, Florida (T-20, +2)

More of the same drives the narrative on the ladies side.

Arkansas’ Brooke Matthews separated herself from LSU’s Ingrid Lindbland on her home turf.

Matthews plodded her way around The Blessings, saving her best for last. The Lady Razorback was just two under on the day through No. 14 before going birdie, eagle, birdie, par over her final four holes to give herself a five shot cushion over Lindbland who sits at six under after a 1-under 71 on Tuesday.

Alabama’s Polly Mack rounds out the trio that are under par. Her 1-under round of 71 was consistent as she found bogeys on Nos. 9, 11, and 15.

Arkansas (E) leads LSU (+10) in the team standings by 10 strokes as the Razorbacks are using homecourse advantage to their fullest. Star-studded South Carolina lurks just behind the Tigers at 16 over.

Notable: Pimnimpa Panthong, South Carolina (T-11, +4);Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, South Carolina (T-11, +4); Jensen Castle, Kentucky (T30, +9)