Rockin' Steady

Such was the scene three weeks ago as the rising Collegiate School senior stepped to the forefront of the local golf scene and onto the front page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch sports section.

 

On June 18, a month after earning co-medalist honors with teammate Caroline Curtis in the VISAA championship Montague, at 18, won the Richmond Golf Association tournament with a 3-and-1 victory over Drew Brockwell (of St. Christopher’s) at the Richmond Country Club.

 

Two weeks earlier, Curtis, a rising junior, captured the RWGA title for the second consecutive year. Central Virginia golf historians believe it’s the first time two students from the same school have won the “City Am” adult titles in the same year.

 

“Golf can be a constant battle with yourself,” Montague said. “If you can win that battle, then you can play a pretty good round. A lot of those older guys (in the RGA) had really strong backgrounds. Some played in college. Some played mini-tours and got their amateur status back. It was a lot of fun playing against them. They’re all so good. It’s definitely cool, but nothing’s really changed. I’m not any different because I won a tournament.”

 

That’s it. Honestly stated. Straightforward. No brag. Just matter-of-fact. That’s the way, Montague operates, it seems, both on and off the course.

 

“Jack takes care of business every day,” said Chris Williams, Collegiate’s head golf coach the past six springs. “He’s steady. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He doesn’t show a lot of emotion. He does a great job every time he tees it up. You know he’ll always be there at the end. He pushes the others and makes them better.

 

“It (his RGA victory) might be a surprise to a lot of folks. To me, the last couple of years, he’s steadily improved. He’s one of those late bloomers who hasn’t gotten a lot of looks (from college coaches) yet. He just lines up and beats you. Whoever signs him will get a good one.”

 

Montague, who played JV golf as a middle schooler, earned All-Prep League and All-State honors as a freshman and junior. In the VISAA event, he and Curtis mastered a wet Meadowbrook Country Club course with 1-under 69’s.

 

“I hit a lot of really good iron shots,” he said of his performance that overcast day. “Off the tee, I was able to keep the ball in front of me, and I made a couple of putts here and there. Overall, it was a really good ball-striking day.”

 

And the inclement weather?

 

“There was rain falling early,” he added. “Luckily, it went away after the front 9. The only thing I do differently (in wet conditions) is wear a rain glove and be more patient. Not much else changes. Everybody has to play in it too.”

 

You might gather by now that Jack is humble, even-keeled, mentally strong, and very much in the moment.

 

“What impressed me most was that Jack has the poise of someone far greater than 18 years old,” said Jordan Utley, a former Mills Godwin and University of Richmond golfer, a very successful amateur player post-college, and Montague’s RGA quarterfinal round opponent.

 

“He played tremendous golf, really solid. He got up early. I put four birdies on him in the middle of the round. Sometimes, an older guy gets hot, and a younger guy gets rattled. He stayed the course. I couldn’t keep up with him. He has plenty of physical tools. A good head on his shoulders is a huge positive.”

 

So how does one have “a good head on his shoulders” in a sport that can seem so simple one day and so maddening the next?

 

“I focus on playing my own game,” Montague said. “When I’m on the course, I stick to a simple routine that gets my mind in the right place. The key is that it’s repetitive and consistent. It’s one or two practice swings. I try to visualize the shot. Then, I’ll step up. Once I’m over the ball, I don’t like to take a lot of time. I just try to react to the shot I’m trying to hit.

 

“When I’m in a zone, there’s a level of confidence that you feel like you can hit whatever shot you’re presented with or make any putt. It’s confidence that the ball’s going where you want it to go. You’re trusting that the practice you’ve put in will help you execute under pressure.           

        

“One of the big keys for me is not getting too high or too low emotionally. You can hit a good shot or miss a putt slightly and beat yourself up. At that point, there’s nothing you can do to change the result. Acceptance is a big part. When I was younger, I’d let one mistake lead to another and get down on myself. I expected every shot to be perfect. I learned pretty quickly that that’s not going to be the case.”

 

Since his RGA triumph, Montague has competed in the VSGA Junior Match Play Championship in Harrisonburg (advanced to the semifinals) and the VSGA Amateur in Aldie (Loudoun County). Next up is the US Amateur Qualifier beginning July 11 at the James River Country Club in Newport News.

 

In the meantime, he’s refining his game as all serious golfers do, shoring up his putting and chipping skills, and playing rounds with friends at the Hermitage Country Club.

 

He’s also enjoying his recent success while keeping his head about him, staying focused, and eagerly anticipating his next trip to the range, his next round, his next challenge.

 

“Golf’s a great game,” he said. “There’s always something you can improve on. You can never perfect it. It’s just you against the course. Stay in the present. Focus on the next shot. That’s the most important one.”

        -- Weldon Bradshaw