The Hamilton Southeastern Royals boys golf team competed in the annual Mudsock matchup against the Fishers Tigers on Tuesday, April 22nd. Brody Colburn and Drew Babb led off for the Royals, followed by Blake Babb and Ben Miller. The team’s number one golfer, Mattingly Upchurch, teed off in the second group alongside Dane Starnes.
Coach David Young followed tradition by having his two seniors, Kai Warner and Wyatt Watson, tee off in the final group. It’s customary for seniors to go last when HSE hosts the Mudsock.
Mattingly Upchurch led the charge for the Royals, shooting an even-par 36 on the day. He earned medalist honors, posting the lowest individual score of the match. When asked about what it means to represent HSE in the Mudsock rivalry, Upchurch said, “Great, loved every bit of it and getting the win.” Out of many solid shots on the day, one stood out in particular: “My approach into hole 2,” Upchurch noted, which helped him birdie the hole.
Upchurch’s playing partner, Dane Starnes, shot 3-over-par, one of the best scores of the match. Coming off a standout freshman season that included a regional championship, Starnes is aiming even higher this year as a sophomore. Reflecting on the Mudsock matchup, he said, “It went pretty well. Our team didn’t play as well as we can, and there’s definitely room for improvement, but I’m glad we won.” He credited his mental toughness as the strongest part of his game on the day: “I had a lot of bad breaks and stayed mentally focused,” he explained.
Another key contributor for the Royals was junior Blake Babb, who shot a 38 to post the team’s second-best score. Babb said the matchup was especially meaningful: “I enjoyed playing against kids I grew up with.” He expressed pride in his performance, adding, “I’m glad to have put up good scores in Mudsock the last two years. I believe we’re just a better team.”
The final result saw HSE shooting a team score of 154, beating Fishers’ 170. Both teams gathered on the final green for the traditional post-match photo, where the Hamilton Southeastern Royals were crowned the 2025 Mudsock champions once again.
