Natasha Fife
Player - Amateur
Class of 1993
Natasha Matson Fife
Natasha Matson Fife was one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in Kansas history and a trailblazer for women's athletics.
The daughter of four-time Kansas Amateur champion George Matson, Fife rose to national prominence at an early age, receiving a special invitation to compete in the 1950 U.S. Women's Open at just 14 years old. She went on to become the dominant female golfer in Kansas during the post-World War II era, winning five Kansas Women's Amateur Championships, seven Wichita Women's Amateur titles, three Broadmoor Invitationals, and, after returning from a decade-long hiatus to raise her family, seven Kansas Women's Senior Amateur Championships.
Fife also made a lasting impact beyond the golf course. She joined Wichita State University in 1959 and was instrumental in establishing the university's women's athletic program. In 1974, she became Wichita State's first Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics, helping expand opportunities for female student-athletes during the early years of Title IX.
A respected educator, mentor, and rules official, Fife dedicated her life to growing the game of golf in Kansas.
2004 – Wichita Cup – Beyond the Call of Golf Award
2006 – Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction
2008 – Wichita Sports Hall of Fame induction
2018 - Shocker Sports Hall of Fame induction
