MARIETTA — Abbey Williams didn’t win the Region 5AAAAA tournament, and she didn’t claim the Class AAAAA state championship.

The Walton sophomore did, however, play some of the best golf of her young career in leading the Lady Raiders to a runner-up region finish and a sixth-place showing at the state tournament.

Williams also missed a few tournaments this season due to a nagging wrist injury, but she still managed a 37.9 stroke average in nine-hole tournaments. She finished third in the 18-hole region tournament with a 78 and tied for 10th overall at state after shooting another 78.

For her strong season, Williams is the 2012 Marietta Daily Journal/Cobb County Girls Golfer of the Year.

“It was a shock,” Williams said of the honor. “I had no idea that I even had a chance, and I was playing golf when I got that call. It was very hard to concentrate afterwards. I was just so excited, and being only a sophomore, it’s amazing. It’s a big deal to me and my parents and my friends. I still can’t believe that I got it.”

Williams’ contributions to Walton’s success were many. She was the low scorer for the Lady Raiders in every event in which she participated, including medalist honors at the Falcon Invitational. She also shot 78 to finish third in the championship flight of the Georgia Peach Tournament.

“Abbey is by far one of the best players we’ve had,” Walton coach Rick Myrick said. “There was a time this season for four matches in a row when she shot 36, 35, 36, 35. When you have one golfer shooting that, the other girl can shoot 40. We know we can count on (Abbey), we just have to find somebody that wants to compete as much as she does.”

As Myrick waits to see that player step up, Williams will continue to work on improving on her game and getting better every season. She made five eagles this year, after never scoring an eagle before.

“I’m a great driver, and my irons are great, too,” Williams said.” My putting and my chipping is a huge part of the game, and I have to focus on that a lot during the summer to get my game to where I want it to be.

“I know that I can shoot in the low 70s consistently, and sometimes in the 60s. That’s my overall goal, and hopefully I’ll be able to achieve that next year.”

Despite being in and out of the lineup all season due to the wrist injury, Williams was undaunted in getting back to help Walton.

“She didn’t get to practice for about the first, maybe two months of the season,” Myrick said. “It was up in the air. We weren’t sure how far she could advance. She has such a desire to play and compete. I knew she was going to play, but I didn’t know how well she would play. Turns out, she played great.

“Before Abbey leaves, hopefully, we’ll win the state championship at least one time. That’s our goal. She has the desire and the attitude and a lot of talent to play at a good (college). She just has to get a little more experience, and that’s what she’s working on.”