Photo by: Michael Hickey
Fleck Adds Lamborne and Upchurch for 2026 Men's Golf Season
November 13, 2025 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Mike Fleck continued a strong recruiting trend this week, adding two more first-team all-state selections to a Ball State roster that is already setting program records this fall with its strong cast of youth. Brayden Lamborne, from Evansville, and Mattingly Upchurch, from Fishers, both are ranked among the top 10 players in the state of Indiana by Junior Golf Scoreboard.
"Brayden and Mattingly both know how to shoot low scores and will join a roster that is committed to continuing our tradition of success," said Fleck, the veteran coach who continues his 28th season as head coach when the Cardinals resume their 2025-26 schedule in February. "We were again able to attract some of the very best players from the state with these two young men joining our family. No doubt, they will compete and continue to push that winning mentality and mindset with their teammates and the program."
Lamborne was a first-team all-state selection as a junior, and has been a first-team all-conference player in three straight seasons for Castle High School in Evansville. In junior golf, he qualified for the Notah Begay National Championship (71-69), won the 2025 Golfweek Junior Tour at Purdue with a 70-64 and tied for second in the Golfweek Junior conducted at Ball State (71-71). He is ranked as the third best player in the 2026 class from Indiana.
"Brayden is one of the best players in our state in this class," said Fleck. "He has a proven and successful record against some of the best players around, including competing through his high school and junior golf career against two of our current Evansville freshmen, Luke Johnston and Brody Sorrell. Brayden has sharpened his skillset playing high level junior golf and we are excited for him to bring that competitive mindset and talent to Ball State."
Upchurch signs with Ball State as the No. 6-ranked Indiana player in the 2026 class. He was a second-team all-state pick last year, and first-team as a sophomore. While leading Hamilton Southeastern High School, he earned all-conference honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior -- and was a sectional and regional medalist. In junior golf, he bagged three wins in 2025 including the Golfweek Junior Tour at Ball State (67-64), the Indiana Age Group Championship (67-70) and the Indiana Junior Golf Fall Series event in Kokomo (72-70). He also finished fourth this fall at the Hoosier Junior Championship (68-75).
"Mattingly will compete anywhere, anytime and that's what really attracted us to him and his game," said Fleck. "He loves the competition and what it creates while establishing himself as one of the top players in the field in almost every tournament he plays. He will fit right in with an ultra-competitive mindset and culture here with our guys and we are looking forward to him joining our squad."
"Brayden and Mattingly both know how to shoot low scores and will join a roster that is committed to continuing our tradition of success," said Fleck, the veteran coach who continues his 28th season as head coach when the Cardinals resume their 2025-26 schedule in February. "We were again able to attract some of the very best players from the state with these two young men joining our family. No doubt, they will compete and continue to push that winning mentality and mindset with their teammates and the program."
Lamborne was a first-team all-state selection as a junior, and has been a first-team all-conference player in three straight seasons for Castle High School in Evansville. In junior golf, he qualified for the Notah Begay National Championship (71-69), won the 2025 Golfweek Junior Tour at Purdue with a 70-64 and tied for second in the Golfweek Junior conducted at Ball State (71-71). He is ranked as the third best player in the 2026 class from Indiana.
"Brayden is one of the best players in our state in this class," said Fleck. "He has a proven and successful record against some of the best players around, including competing through his high school and junior golf career against two of our current Evansville freshmen, Luke Johnston and Brody Sorrell. Brayden has sharpened his skillset playing high level junior golf and we are excited for him to bring that competitive mindset and talent to Ball State."
Upchurch signs with Ball State as the No. 6-ranked Indiana player in the 2026 class. He was a second-team all-state pick last year, and first-team as a sophomore. While leading Hamilton Southeastern High School, he earned all-conference honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior -- and was a sectional and regional medalist. In junior golf, he bagged three wins in 2025 including the Golfweek Junior Tour at Ball State (67-64), the Indiana Age Group Championship (67-70) and the Indiana Junior Golf Fall Series event in Kokomo (72-70). He also finished fourth this fall at the Hoosier Junior Championship (68-75).
"Mattingly will compete anywhere, anytime and that's what really attracted us to him and his game," said Fleck. "He loves the competition and what it creates while establishing himself as one of the top players in the field in almost every tournament he plays. He will fit right in with an ultra-competitive mindset and culture here with our guys and we are looking forward to him joining our squad."
Players Mentioned
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