2017 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award finalist: Vasy Montague, Gulf Coast

Many student-athletes broaden themselves by playing more than one sport. From that standpoint, Vasy Montague wasn't any different.

The problem for Gulf Coast High School's 2017 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete finalist was her two sports were going on at the same time of year.

Montague played both golf and volleyball her first two years. As a sophomore, one frenetic time she drove from a golf match in Sebring and made a volleyball match at Golden Gate that night.

Montague, whose first name is pronounced like Stacy,  knew that wasn't going to keep working, so she made a decision.

"It really was a struggle to choose between volleyball and golf," she said. "I talked about it a million times over with my parents, my coaches, my athletic director.

"I was blessed to be a part of both and I had a great support system behind me."

Ultimately, Montague went with the sport she first took up when she was 3, and thought would give her the best chance at a college scholarship.

"Golf is what I want to do," Montague said. "Golf is a life sport and it's really my passion."

Montague was one of the top golfers in the area, and tied for 22nd in the Class 3A state tournament this season. She'll play this fall at High Point, a Division I school in North Carolina.

"It checked everything on my list," she said. "North Carolina, out of state, a little change in weather, scenery, environment. ... I really worked at it and I'm really proud of my accomplishment."

Gulf Coast coach Eric Maya has watched Montague's progress. That's included becoming a leader of a young team with a pair of sophomores in the top five.

"Her optimistic attitude and determination has an overwhelmingly positive effect on her teammates as well as her classmates," Maya wrote in a recommendation letter. "She encourages them to raise their level of achievement by setting a most impressive example of what it means to be a student-athlete."

"I always make sure the girls are up," Montague said. "You never let a bad hole affect you. That's in the past. You can't do anything about it."

What Montague can do something about is continuing to make a difference.

"She naturally assumes leadership roles due to her attitude and effort, which has resulted in her being highly respected among her peers," Gulf Coast teacher Shawn Kelly wrote in a recommendation letter.

28th annual Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete banquet

When: Thursday, May 25, 7 p.m.

Where: Naples Grande Beach Resort

Keynote speaker: Gary Danielson

Info: wingedfootaward.com