Catriona Matthew to enter Scottish golf’s ‘Hall of Fame’

Catriona Matthew is to join Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance, Sandy Lyle and Bernard Gallacher in Scottish golf’s ‘Hall of Fame’.

The honour will be conferred on the North Berwick woman when she becomes the latest Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at next year’s Scottish Golf Awards in Edinburgh.

It’s deserved recognition for Matthew, who has backed up a stellar amateur career with 11 victories in the professional ranks.

The highlight, of course, came when she won the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham - a victory that was achieved just 11 weeks after she’d given birth to her second daughter.

The 46-year-old’s six Ladies European Tour triumphs include three on home soil - the 1998 McDonald’s WPGA Championship at Gleneagles as well as brace of Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open wins at Archerfield Links in 2011 and 2013.

She has also played in eight Solheim Cups and has thrown her hat into the ring to be Europe’s captain when the 2019 match is played at Gleneagles.

“I am simply thrilled to accept this award,” said Matthew. “I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a successful career over 21 years as a professional and I believe there is still more I can achieve in the coming years.

“Having attended the Scottish Golf Awards for the first time last year, I know it is a fantastic event and I look forward to collecting the Lifetime Achievement Award in front of my family, fellow golfers and golf fans.”

The event takes place at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Friday, 11 March, when the hosts will be dadio DJ Diane Knox, sister of recent WGC winner Russell, and broadcaster and Deacon Blue drummer, Dougie Vipond.

It has raised almost £50,000 for the Scottish Golf Charitable Trust over the past two years and now welcomes a new charity partner.

The On Course Foundation is an organisation which supports the recovery of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel and veterans through golf, with the aim of building confidence and finding meaningful employment opportunities in the golf industry.

* Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 Scottish Golf Awards, with a table of 10 costing £950 inclusive of VAT and individual tickets £95 per person. Visit http://www.scottishgolf.org/who-we-are/golfawards/ or call 01334 466477.