Ben Mattingly
Park Tudor High School
Indianapolis, IN
Park Tudor senior Ben Mattingly has enjoyed a strong high school golf career, but he feels there's something missing. The Panthers have advanced to three straight Center Grove regionals, but all three times their season ended there.
"Right now, the biggest goal I have is getting to state," said Mattingly, Fishers. "I want to experience that before I graduate. The last three years we've been a good enough team to make it out of the regional, but we've never played well enough to get out. This year is my final chance to help make that happen."
Mattingly averages a nine-hole 37.4 and 77.0 in 18-hole matches, but the numbers are a bit deceiving. He shot 43 in his last nine-hole match and averaged 80 in his past three tournaments.
"I see parts of my game that are really strong right now, but I also know there are parts that I need to work on," he said. "My iron play is not where it needs to be, and my putting definitely is lacking. But I feel that if I put in enough time practicing putting, I can turn it around."
Park Tudor coach Brad Fleury said Mattingly is one of the best golfers around when he plays up to his capabilities.
"Ben definitely has the potential to be competitive with any individual I've seen us play against this year," he said. "When he's on, it's 280 yards down the center of the fairway, a short iron into the green, and a 5- to 15-foot birdie putt. From a swing standpoint, he's as steady of a golfer as I've ever seen."
Fleury, in his first year as Park Tudor's coach, said Mattingly helped the coach's transition this spring.
"His mentality is so even-tempered," Fleury said. "I think the other younger kids, and even the older ones, feed off his demeanor. They want to get mad when they hit a bad shot, but they see Ben bogey a hole and then walk to the next hole and hit a great drive. That rubs off on the rest of the team. It makes my job easier."
Mattingly will play golf for Bucknell University next season.
"I feel like there is a weight off my shoulders. I was able to impress the coach enough for him to tell me that I have a spot on the team," Mattingly said. "But I still want to have a good senior season. Never getting to state does make me feel a little bit of pressure."
Mattingly wants his team to be with him at the state meet but realizes he might have to qualify as an individual.
"I have to say yes, that I think I can get there alone, because at this point it's all about confidence," he said.
"I started out playing so well this year, but even though the last couple of matches I haven't played quite as well as I want, I know I have the game to get out of the regional. I feel like I can improve between now and then."
