Bull's Eye For Shooting Star JulieG

Professional shooter and author Julie Golob of Glasgow has joined the elite ranks of National Rifle Association's Action Pistol Distinguished Badge holders, her website announced Saturday.

Having won three NRA Bianchi Cup Women's Championships, Golob is one of just four women who have earned Distinguished status in the sport of Action Pistol.

Arguably one of the most challenging handgun shooting sports in the world, NRA Action Pistol competition consists of four courses – the Barricade, Practical, Moving Target and the Plates.

Golob is no stranger to the winner's circle at the sport's premiere event, the NRA Bianchi Cup, where she has set an NRA Action Pistol Women's National record on the Moving Target, earned Military and Women's Shoot Off Champion Titles four times each and has hoisted the coveted Women's Championship Cup three times.

The NRA's Distinguished Badge is awarded to recognize excellence in NRA Action Pistol competition.

The organization bases its selection on a point system and awards the Distinguished Badge to competitors who earn minimum qualifying scores in two State Championships, one Regional, and the Bianchi Cup National Championship in any calendar year.

"The Bianchi Cup has to be one of the most difficult matches I compete in,” Golob said. “Not only is the event tough, but the path to Distinguished status is one that can take years."

"Only the sport's most dedicated competitors earn it and it has been on my shooting bucket list since I began competing at the Cup. Receiving my Distinguished Badge and joining the ranks of incredibly talented shooters is an accomplishment I am extremely proud of."

This weekend, Golob is participating as the guest of honor in a book-signing and Q&A session at the Get A GRIP Ladies anniversary event in Georgia.

This "ladies only" defensive firearms program teaches women defensive concepts and practical application techniques for safely and effectively handling handguns, shotguns and carbines for personal use and home defense.

Golob’s winning performance at her most recent NRA Bianchi Cup gave her the final points needed to secure badge No. 114. According to National Rifle Association statistics, she is among the first of 100 to earn the badge in the Open Division and is just one of four women who have claimed it in the sport's history.

Julie Gobb: She Shoots, She Scores

Julie Golob is one of the most accomplished professional shooters in the world. She is a member of Team Benelli as well as serving as Captain of Smith & Wesson's Shooting Team.

She has won more than 120 championship titles in international, national and regional marksmanship competitions in seven different action shooting disciplines.

A veteran of the elite U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, she was named both U.S. Army Female Athlete of the Year and AMU Athlete of the Year. Her list of titles include the prestigious Bianchi Cup, Steel Challenge, IDPA National Championships and the International Revolver Championships.

The author of “SHOOT: Your Guide to Shooting and Competition,” Julie also offers useful shooting tips and insight on shooting sports with her blog and JulieG Radio Podcast.

Her website is at http://www.JulieGolob.com.