Professional golfer Catriona Matthew OBE – the first female sports scholar at the University of Stirling – has been inducted into the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Hall of Fame.
Matthew was inducted at the BUCS Awards on Wednesday and joins an exclusive group of athletes, including Sir Roger Bannister CH CBE, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Dame Katherine Grainger DBE.
The Hall of Fame – established in 2019 to mark 100 years of sport at British universities and colleges – recognises the significant success and contribution of athletes, coaches, and support staff.
On her induction, Matthew said: "I am absolutely delighted. When I looked and saw some of the names that had been inducted previously, and the other inductees this time round, it's quite the Hall of Fame.
“I am honoured to become a member of it.”
Cathy Gallagher and Catriona Matthew
Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, attended the Awards. She said: “Catriona was the University’s first ever female sports scholar; and, after turning professional in 1995, she has enjoyed a hugely successful career, winning major competitions and representing her country at the highest level.
“Catriona is an inspirational role model for young female golfers and continues to support the development of her sport. This prestigious recognition from BUCS is well deserved and, on behalf of everyone at Stirling, I send our warmest congratulations to Catriona.”
Catriona Matthew
Edinburgh-born golfer Matthew joined the University’s international sports scholarship programme in 1987 – becoming the first female to do so – and turned professional in 1995, having graduated in accountancy in 1992. She has gone on to enjoy a hugely successful career, with her honours including wins at the 1993 British Ladies Amateur Championship; the 1996 Australian Open; the 1998 WPGA Championship; the 2009 British Open; and the 2011 and 2013 Scottish Opens.
Supported by her husband Graeme, who caddied for her for 20 years, Catriona has won 11 professional competitions, spanning both the US-based LGPA Tour and the European Tour, and was crowned Ladies European Tour Player of the Year in 2009. In 2013, she achieved her best position in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, finishing eighth.
Catriona made her debut in the Solheim Cup in 1998 – and went on to represent Team Europe on nine occasions over a 19-year period, amassing the third highest points total for a player in the event’s history. She became Team Europe captain in 2019 and was the first to win successive Solheim Cups, at Gleneagles in 2019 and the Inverness Club in Ohio in 2021 – an achievement that she describes as the highlight of her career. Catriona represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and at the European Championships, and Scotland at three World Cups.
As one of the biggest names in the Scottish game, Catriona continues to support the development of her sport, working closely with Scottish Golf in a mentorship role.
Last year, Catriona was bestowed the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her outstanding career as a player and captain. She has twice been recognised in the New Year Honours, with an MBE in 2010 and an OBE in 2020, for services to golf.
BUCS is the national governing body of university and college sport in the United Kingdom. It works with institutions across the country to develop opportunities for students to become more active, as well as providing structure for competitive sport.
Find out more about the University's high performance golf programme.