Former Xavier standout Fosdick happy with decision to transfer

Chris Fosdick bet on himself that he could make a successful move from NCAA Division II golf to the Division I level.

With nearly two years complete at the University of Virginia, Fosdick’s move to the Atlantic Coast Conference program has been a successful one. He won one tournament, finished second in several others and placed 35th at the ACC tournament championship last month.

“I’m super glad I made the choice to transfer (from Florida Southern),” Fosdick said. “Last year I played a little better than I did this year. I was in a little bit of a slump, but I’ve played better recently. A slump is hard to get out of.”

Fosdick, 21, has a 72.91 stroke average this season, which also includes the fall. He has three career top-10 finishes for Virginia, including a victory at the Hamptons Intercollegiate last October.

Fosdick, a Middlefield resident and a three-time New Haven Register Area MVP out of Xavier High in Middletown, is back in his home state this week competing in the NCAA Division I New Haven Regional at Yale Golf Course. He opened with a 1-over-par 71 on Monday.

“I hit pretty much every tee shot where I wanted to and my approach shots were good for the most part. I didn’t get anything to drop on the greens,” Fosdick said. “It’s cool to come back here. I’ve played well in (college) tournaments I’ve played up here. Both tournaments I played on Long Island, my dad was able to come watch.”

The last time Fosdick played competitively at Yale GC, he came from behind to win the Connecticut Junior PGA Championship in 2018.

Fosdick said all of the Virginia players were watching the broadcast of the NCAA selection show in head coach Bowen Sargent’s office to see which of the six regional sites the Cavaliers would be sent to. Now, Virginia must finish among the top five teams at Yale in order to qualify for the national championship meet beginning May 27 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fosdick, also a member at Wallingford CC, was the medalist in his final high school tournament, the Division I state championship meet at Timberlin GC in 2019. In June of 2020, Fosdick won the first of back-to-back Connecticut Amateur championships.

Both times, first at Shorehaven Golf Club, then last June at Hartford GC, Fosdick defeated Cody Paladino, a former Connecticut Open winner and the reigning New England Amateur champion. Both matches were decided on the 36th hole.

There is a good possibility Fosdick won’t have a chance at a three-peat, assuming he gets an invitation to the Northeast Amateur, which is being held in Rumford, Rhode Island. That invitational is being held the same week ( June 22-25) as the Connecticut Amateur, which is being played at Ridgewood CC in Danbury.

Fosdick is also hoping to get an invite to the 69th Sunnehanna Amateur, which is held annually in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

“It would be cool to defend and win the third time. We will see what happens,” Fosdick said about the Amateur. “You want to play in strong events and these are the big strong amateur fields. There is more competition and a lot of the guys end up playing professionally, which is my goal. It prepares you more and gets you comfortable for the biggest situations.”

Fosdick also said he plans to attempt to qualify for both the Travelers Championship and the U.S. Amateur and compete in the Connecticut Open in July.

Fosdick has two more years left at Virginia. Ben James of Milford, the No. 1 junior in the country and a longtime competitor and friend of Fosdick’s, will be joining the Cavaliers’ program this fall.

“I want to get my name out there for possible sponsors in the next couple of years,” Fosdick said. “If your name is already out there, it’s a big help and a big advantage. Guys give it a few years after college to try and make it big (in pro golf ). That’s my goal.”