Coming into the County Championship, Junior Mattingly Upchurch had been struggling. Just two weeks earlier, the Hamilton Southeastern boys golf team competed at Prairie View Golf Club in the State Championship Qualifier, where the Ball State commit was looking to lead the Royals to a prime qualifying spot.
But things didn’t go as planned.
Upchurch played solidly through the front nine, shooting 1-over and holding a spot in the top 10. Then the back nine happened. Shot after shot, the momentum slipped. He fell down the leaderboard, visibly frustrated and mentally checked out.
He finished 11-over par.
Reflecting on the round, Upchurch said, “I wasn’t happy with my performance or mental attitude,” acknowledging that he could’ve done more to positively impact both his game and the team. But even in disappointment, he saw signs of progress. “I knew my game was trending and I just had to keep pushing,” he added.
That loss lit a fire.
Over the next two weeks, Upchurch locked in. Day in and day out, he worked on sharpening both his shot and his mindset. “I worked really hard on my mental attitude and keeping my head in the game,” he said.
When the County Championship arrived, Upchurch was ready. An hour before tee time, he was seen working on his chipping and putting — fully focused. “I knew this was a big match for me. I had something to prove,” he said.
And he delivered.
After a steady start, Upchurch found his rhythm and caught fire. He carded a tournament-best 3-under par — a 14-stroke improvement from his State Qualifier performance — to win the individual County Championship.
He was in the zone: pinning shots just feet from the hole, sinking 15-foot putts, and playing like a true collegiate golfer. Calm, composed, and in sync with Royals Boys Golf Coach David Young, Upchurch’s weeks of preparation paid off.
After the match, he summed it up simply: “I feel like I’ve caught my stride at the perfect time going into the playoffs.”
And he’s not done yet.
As Upchurch said: “This is just the beginning — we aren’t done yet.”
