Back-to-back goes Samantha Dewendt for BLITZ Golfer of the Year. The senior’s great showing at state stapled down the honors!

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• State 5th (164)
• Area 3rd (80)

Samantha Dewendt’s senior year went well – complete with a 5th-place finish at state (164) and an Area 3rd-place finish (80)! She leaves Dawson County as one of the top golfers to come through the program.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Samantha Dewendt – 57.5 pts (9 1st-place votes)
2. Mallory Higgins – 34.5 pts (3)
3. Pearl Hughes – 26.5 pts
4. Addie Maney – 20.5 pts (1)
5. AK Patton – 15.5 pts (1)
6. Layne Graham – 13.5 pts

Voting included our 14-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Dewendt took 9 of 14 1st-place votes, with Mallory Higgins grabbing a couple as well. All in all, Dewendt had only 1 vote outside 1st-2nd.

HISTORY OF GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR

• 2024 – Samantha Dewendt – Dawson County SR
• 2023 – Samantha Dewendt – Dawson County JR
• 2022 – Katie Grace Randall – Stephens County SR
• 2021 – Catie Craig – White County SR & Maggie Jackson – Tallulah Falls SR
• 2020 – Catie Craig – White County JR
• 2019 – Catie Craig – White County SO
• 2018 – Caroline Craig – White County JR & Catie Craig – White County FR
• 2017 – Caroline Craig – White County SO
• 2016 – Maddie Horinek – Union County JR & Ally Horinek – Union County SO
• 2015 – Madison Caldwell – Dawson County SR
• 2014 – Madison Caldwell – Dawson County JR
• 2013 – Madison Caldwell – Dawson County SO
• 2012 – Cara Gowder – Banks County JR
• 2011 – Morgan Wood – Lumpkin County JR
• 2010 – Morgan Wood – Lumpkin County SO

Dewendt becomes the 5th golfer in BLITZ history to win the award multiple times, and gives Dawson County also 5 wins over the last 15 years.