Focus and determination have allowed Julie Shutler to quickly ascend to the top of her game and become one of Sacramento State’s strongest women golfers.

The sophomore business major led the team last season with an average of 76.06 and set the 36- and 54-hole school records last fall.

She set the 36-hole mark with a score of 78-69-147 at the Cal Poly invitational where she tied for fifth. Her round of scoring a 69 is tied for second in school history.

Born in Carson City, Nev., Shutler moved around until she was 4,when her family settled in Manteca. Emerging from a working-class background, she grew up with loving parents Bill and Laurie Shutler, who supported her throughout her life and golfing career.

Shutler first picked up a golf club when she was 7 years old. She would go with her family to the Manteca Park Golf Course where they would play golf once or twice a month.

“Occasionally we would try and take her out to the golf course when she was young,” Bill Shutler said. “It wasn’t anything major, though.”

Her current swing instructor of five years, Tony Troncale, has been her mentor for the majority of her golfing career. He has been a Professional Golfers’ Association of America professional for 25 years.

“When she first came to me, she was obviously very talented, but she didn’t have a very efficient golf swing,” Troncale said.

Troncale said Shutler never received formal training, so he helped her with her form.

In high school, Julie Shutler was a three-sport athlete, playing golf, basketball and softball.

“It wasn’t until she played her first year in high school that she really began to excel.” Bill Shutler said.

Julie Shutler saw potential in golf so she stopped playing basketball and softball to focus solely on golf.

Troncale said within the last few years he has really seen Julie Shutler progress on the golf course with her swing.

She had success in her high school golfing career. She was named the Stockton Record’s Golfer of the year in 2008 and was the Valley Oak League and San Joaquin Section Division IV medalist. She also qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation of Northern California Championships, where she finished in 18th place.

Toward the latter part of her high school career, she was recruited by multiple colleges, but ultimately decided upon Sac State to continue her golfing career.

“I liked the potential I saw in the team and the coach (David Sutherland),” Julie Shutler said. “His background was better than any of the other coaches that were recruiting me. You can’t beat a PGA professional as a coach.”

Sutherland, a respected former PGA tour pro and golf director at Sac State, said he knew he wanted to recruit Julie Shutler as soon as they first met.

“You can tell she was passionate about golf,” Sutherland said. “She was great academically and she was a wonderful kid, I’d love to recruit Julie every year if I could.”

She started her freshman golf year with mild success, but it was not until last year where she really stood out among her teammates.

It was also last year when Julie Shutler and her family received tragic news. Her mother was diagnosed in July 2009 with stage four breast cancer.

Stage four is a level that describes the size of the tumor and whether or not the cancer has spread. So the higher the level, the more the cancer has infiltrated the body.

“It was pretty devastating,” Bill Shutler said. “Luckily she has responded to treatment and is getting better.”

Julie Shutler said in the summer was when she played some of her worst golf due to hearing of the news.

“She is doing really well now and I am proud of her for all she’s fought through,” Julie Shutler said.

Bill Shutler said the incident to her mother has inspired Julie to improve her golf game. It made her realize she has to make the most of life.

Motivated and ready to play, Julie really set the bar for herself and had one of the best seasons in her career in fall 2009.

“I played my best college tournament ever in September,” Julie Shutler said. “I don’t know if it was motivated golf or what, but it was surprising.”

Sutherland said Julie works extremely hard at improving her game off the golf course.

“The thing with Julie’s work ethic is consistency,” Sutherland said. “She sets a wonderful example of what you want student athletes to be.”

Shutler’s hard work ethic translates to the classroom, where she maintains a 3.7 grade point average.

She said she has a few goals set for herself this spring season on the course.

“I want our team to win another tournament and conference,” Shutler said. “As for myself, I want to win a tournament and to get my stroke average under 75.”

Shutler does not know if she wants to purse a professional golfing career after college, but others believe she has what it takes to make the leap.

“If she keeps improving from where she’s at right now, she is going to become a good professional golfer as well,” Troncale said. “There is no doubt in my mind that she has what it takes to play in the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association of America Tour.”

Sergio Saldana can be reached at [email protected]