Xavier’s Fosdick takes first place
Cardinals’ Fretty finishes 4th
OLD LYME — Chris Fosdick of Xavier achieved a first on Saturday and he couldn’t be happier.
A junior, Fosdick was the best of the best among the state’s golf stars at the inaugural CIAC Open Championship.
Riding a hot putter and consistently hitting his tee shots in the fairway, Fosdick won the Open Championship, shooting a sizzling 4-under-par 67 at challenging Black Hall Club.
Since it was an open event, the CIAC recognized one overall champion (Fosdick). Trophies were presented to the top three finishers and an award was given to the female who shot the lowest round. The inaugural tournament was conducted by the CSGA and the CIAC.
“I felt really good about my game today, my wedge game was good and on the greens, I felt really good,” said Fosdick, who played at the No. 1 spot for Xavier throughout the season. “I made a lot of putts. It’s really cool to win the first Connecticut high school open.”
Even when Fosdick got into trouble, he was able to avoid big numbers.
“On the 12th hole, my ball was halfway submerged in water,” Fosdick said. “I chunked it out, had to talk off my shirt, I had one shoe on and I ended up making bogey on that hole and saved my round.”
Several clubs in Fosdick’s bag helped key his round.
“My gap wedge, my putter and my short irons — my short game really saved me today,” said Fosdick, who recorded seven birdies. “Our team had a great season, this just adds on to that.”
Said Xavier coach Mike Kohs: “He played super, he bogeyed the first two holes, then tee to green he played so well, he was solid the whole round after that. Tee to green he was a machine.”
Tyler Hahn of Avon was the runner up, carding an even-par 71, while Jack Boatright from Fairfield Ludlowe finished third with a 73.
“I played a practice round on Thursday, which was really nice, because it was the first time I saw the course and I spent a lot of time on the greens,” said Hahn, a senior. “I feel like I hit the ball really well off the tee, but on the occasions I missed the greens, I got up-and-down really good. It was a fun way to end my senior season.”
Boatright shot an impressive 32 on the front nine.
“I was pretty proud of how I played on the front nine,” said Boatright, a senior. “I got a couple of putts to fall and hit a lot of fairways. The back nine, I struggled a bit, missing fairways and missing greens and some putts. But overall, it was a pretty solid round — I’m happy with how it went.”
Junior Morgan Hibbert from New Canaan had the lowest female score, posting an 80, good for 14th place overall.
“The course was in great condition, the fairways were great and today, I made a couple of putts for birdie, which helped me a lot,” said Hibbert, a junior. “The pin placements were tough, but my iron shots definitely saved me today.”
Hibbert sank a birdie putt on No. 17 and holed a pair of putts for birdie on the front nine.
“I’m so happy to represent my school here, it was an exciting day,” Hibbert said.
Joining Hibbert was New Canaan teammate Meghan Mitchell, who shot an 89.
“Being here today was awesome,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t play my best today, but I kept fighting and kept going strong. It was nice to have a teammate here.”
Junior Jackson Fretty from Greenwich placed fourth overall at 5-over 76. The Connecticut Player of the Year ended his season in strong fashion, making several par and birdie putts toward the end of his round.
“I am really excited that they decided to run this event,” Fretty said. “I enjoyed the venue, it was a great course at a great place and it was nice they had an individual state tournament. Today, I turned it around at the end, after not having my best day, playing 2-under the final five holes.”
Fretty played a major role in Greenwich winning the FCIAC and Division I titles.
“We wanted to win FCIACs and states and we were able to accomplish that, which was amazing,” Fretty said. “At states, I knew I had to play my ‘A’ game in order for us to win, so I was glad I was able to do that. It was a great season for our team.”
Luke Carroll from Conard, Matthew Chorches of Conard, Mac Mahoney (Hall), Calvin Smith, (Darien) and Tyler Woodward (Coginchaug) each finished in a fifth-place tie with a 6-over 77.
“I am looking forward to next year, hopefully I’ll be here again,” Smith said. “I’ll have better insight on the greens and where you can and can’t be, because there are a lot of tough spots out here.”
Matthew Doyle of Daniel Hand Alexander Gu (Darien), Michael Hanratty (Avon) and William Mallek from Fairfield Prep tied for 10th with a 78. Bridget Barnsley from Amity shot an 84, Caroline Petchark (Waterford) carded an 88 and Alyssa Maiolo (Ridgefield) finished with a 91.