One of the PGA’s most illustrious members has received another accolade after being inducted into the University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame.
Catherine Panton-Lewis, a PGA Advanced Fellow Professional, returned to the Scottish capital for the ceremony, which also saw the 55-year-old join Commonwealth shooting champion Shirley McIntosh and world champion orienteer Yvette Barker as the first all-women list of inductees in the Hall of Fame since its launch three years ago.
The former students, Panton-Lewis gained an MA in geography, joined fellow illustrious sporting achievers Sir Chris Hoy, Gregor Townsend and Eric Liddell.
“It was such a surprise when I got a letter from the vice-chancellor asking if I would accept an invitation to the Sports Hall of Fame,” said Panton-Lewis, who is based at The Berkshire and is the daughter of Scottish golf great John Panton.
“I was thrilled to be asked and the induction was very exciting and it was a great honour. I saw my picture on the wall alongside the likes of Chris Hoy, Gregor Townsend, Eric Liddell and it’s there now for time immemorial. It was also quite special as I am the only golfer in the Hall of Fame alongside a host of people from other sports.”
Panton-Lewis was studying at university when she achieved the best win of her amateur career winning the British Ladies Championship at Silloth-on-Solway in 1976. It earned her the accolade of Scottish Sportswoman of the Year.
“After winning that studying did become a bit of a struggle as I got picked for the Great Britain World Cup team. It came when I was trying to write my dissertation. I’d taken the week off for the championship and then golf took over when studying was the priority so it became a case of fitting the studying in rather than the golf, when it should have been the other way round.”
On graduating Panton-Lewis turned professional and was among the first to play on the inaugural year of the Ladies European Tour in 1978. She won the Order of Merit in 1979 and went on to claim 14 LET titles over a nine-year period.
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