Fosdick, Paladino to meet in final

NORWALK — Chris Fosdick had a decision to make late last week after qualifying for both the State Amateur and the Travelers Championship open qualifier. Both were scheduled to be held on Monday.

Fosdick decided on playing the Amateur — to “help improve his amateur status.” The rising college sophomore is very happy with the decision he made.

The 19 year old has advanced to the 118th State Amateur final at Shorehaven Golf Club after eliminating the top seed, Bradford Tilley, 2-up in Wednesday’s afternoon semifinal round. He will face former champion Cody Paladino in Thursday’s 36-hole final.

“I chose to play here and I’m happy I did. I know now it was the right decision,” Fosdick said.

Fosdick, a former standout at Xavier High School in Middletown, earned All-American laurels as a freshman at Division II Florida Southern last fall. But he has decided to transfer — to Division I Virginia, an ACC power.

“I wanted to be pushed more,” Fosdick said. “The ACC is a strong conference.

It will shape me more for professional golf.”

Fosdick said he is currently going through the admissions process to become a Cavalier. He will not have to sit out a season due to the transfer.

Fosdick, a member at Wallingford CC, eliminated Adam Friedman (Great River GC) 4 and 3 in the quarterfinals. He never trailed in that match — in fact, he has only trailed once in four matches.

He only was able to get a 2-up advantage on Tilley, who won the New York State Mid Amateur, the Westchester Mid-Amateur and the Met Mid-Amateur in a span of 10 days.

Tilley holds membership at both Sleepy Hollow GC and Redding CC. He managed to hang in against Fosdick despite a sore back.

“My back was tight this morning and I played through it, but the 1-hourand-20-minute break was not great for me, unfortunately. I’m not blaming that, but it would have been better not to have to deal with it.

He received a bad break when a near-hole out for eagle on the 14th hole ricocheted off the green.

“I had like a three-quarter lob wedge and it took one hop short of the pin, bounced up into the pin and ricochet off the green,” Tilley said.

Tilley, a former standout player at Virginia himself, birdied the par-5 16th hole to get to 1-down. But he missed birdie attempts and both 17 and 18. Fosdick birdied the final hole.

“I hate losing more than I like winning. I guess that’s what drives me to win,” said Tilley 37. “But if you have to lose, losing to a future Cav or current Cav it’s not bad because I’m older than those guys…. I’m happy for him and I hope he goes on and wins this thing.”

Paladino, the 2013 winner, eliminated Ben Day (CC of Waterbury), 3 and 2 in the semifinals. He had to make a par putt on the 18th hole to survive his morning quarterfinal match against Ben James.

James, the rising junior at Hamden Hall Country Day who finished third in the Connecticut Open last year, birdied 15 and 16 to turn a 2-down deficit into an all-square match with two holes to play.

After both players parred 17, James, a Milford resident, hit a solid approach shot from the right rough, but it settled into the grass just behind the green. His chip went about 20 feet past and he just left his part attempt short.

Paladino had regained his amateur status back after a brief professional career

“Coming back to amateur golf, I really didn’t know what it was going to be really like for me,” Paladino said. “I’m extremely excited for tomorrow. I can’t wait to get back out there.”

Paladino never trailed against Day to advance to his third Amateur final. He lost in extra holes in 2006 against Tommy McDonagh — who he eliminated in the second round on Tuesday.

“I’ve played in a 110degree weather and I’ve played many, many weeks in a row I feel pretty confident I can be up to the task physically.,” Paladino said.

118TH STATE AMATEUR

(At Shorehaven GC) QUARTERFINALS

Bradford Tilley (Redding CC) def. Dan Murphy (Smith Richardson GC), 6 and 4; Chris Fosdick (Wallingford CC) def. Adam Friedman (Great River GC), 4 and 3; Ben Day (CC of Waterbury) def. Tom Durkin )(Suffield CC), 2 and 1; Cody Paladino (CC of Farmington) drf. Ben James (Great River GC), 1-up. SEMIFINALS

Fosdick def. Tilley, 2-up; Paladinod ef. Day, 4 and 3.

FINAL

36 holes

Thursday

Fosdick vs. Paladino, 8 a.m.